girlfriend

Or girl friend

[gurl-frend]

noun

1. a frequent or favorite female companion; sweetheart.

2. a female friend.

girlfriend

/ ˈɡɜːlˌfrɛnd /

noun

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

2. any female friend

Word History and Origins

Origin of girlfriend¹

First recorded in 1855–60; girl + friend

Example Sentences

His predecessor, Buchanan, was ousted after he had helped arrange a deal to sell his girlfriend’s coffee products at Kohl’s.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Joey is angry that Chandler has kissed his girlfriend and will only forgive him if Chandler spends Thanksgiving in a box.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“My girlfriend’s grandpa used to collect matchbooks, and last summer, he gave me a really sentimental one, really solidifying my place in the family, and we both wanted it to become our thing,” she says.

Read more on Salon

The presence of the surly uncle, insufferable in-law, or grating girlfriend at the holiday table can make it hard to truly count one’s blessings.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“He got to take his girlfriend to Cancún,” she wrote.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• companion 
• friend 
• partner 
• sweetheart