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Synonyms

cowgirl

American  
[kou-gurl] / ˈkaʊˌgɜrl /

noun

  1. a woman who herds and tends cattle on a ranch, especially in the western U.S., and who traditionally goes about most of her work on horseback.

  2. a woman who exhibits the skills attributed to such cowgirls, especially in rodeos.


Etymology

Origin of cowgirl

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; cow 1 + girl

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.

Chloe Chiasson channels her ties to queer culture and the American West with a portrait—oversize ears frame a Stetson-hatted cowgirl with a mournful expression.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

Ms Brigantino is a self-described cowgirl and was away with her friends who all work in the Western industry with horses.

From BBC • Jun. 23, 2025

On this day, she wears a two-piece vintage cowgirl ensemble under a ’70s-era leather coat with a fur collar.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2024

Whitemarsh says she always wanted to be a cowgirl growing up, and so, she decided to try to find a way to help kids with special needs live out their own rodeo dreams.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 14, 2023

“Sorry, cowgirl, but I can’t. I made him a blood promise a long time ago.”

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen

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