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Synonyms

girlfriend

American  
[gurl-frend] / ˈgɜrlˌfrɛnd /
Or girl friend

noun

  1. a frequent or favorite female companion; sweetheart.

  2. a female friend.


girlfriend British  
/ ˈɡɜːlˌfrɛnd /

noun

  1. a female friend with whom a man or boy is romantically or sexually involved; sweetheart

  2. any female friend

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of girlfriend

First recorded in 1855–60; girl + friend

Compare meaning

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Vocabulary lists containing girlfriend

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It sounds, from what you say in your letter, like your husband wants a girlfriend, not a wife.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 6, 2026

"The suspect resides at the location with his mother, who is the victim's girlfriend," a statement added.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

The other person said, “I realized my girlfriend stopped asking me questions.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026

Sitting in the front row was his girlfriend Paula Hurd, one of his sisters and Larry Cohen, the longtime CEO of Gates Ventures and his right-hand man.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

“You look stunning. But little girlfriend, you’re so pretty you can get away with any color you choose.”

From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper

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