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

---

Etymology

Origin of girlfriend

First recorded in 1855–60; girl + friend

Compare meaning

How does girlfriend compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• significant other vs. girlfriend

Example Sentences

Afterward, he said, a man took the inmates to Minor’s girlfriend’s house, where she ordered them a Lyft to Florida.

From The Wall Street Journal

Patel defended his use of the plane, which he used to have “date nights” with his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins.

From Salon

We love those around us, we love our spouses and our girlfriends.

From The Wall Street Journal

Where other shows would have flattened the tension between the men into a simplistic equation of a suitor terrified of his girlfriend’s father, the writers developed a different relationship for Reiner and Johnson.

From Salon

On some foreign trips, he brings his girlfriend Lauren Olaya, a former golf pro and anchor on Fox’s “Swing Clinic,” the official said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• companion
• friend
• partner
• sweetheart