gal
noun
a term used to refer to a girl or woman.
gal
1 American
[gal]
/ gæl /
noun
Informal: Sometimes Offensive.
gal
2
American
[gal]
/ gæl /
noun
gal.
3
American
abbreviation
Gal.
4
American
abbreviation
Bible.
Gal.
1
British
abbreviation
GAL
2
British
abbreviation
gal
3
British
/ ɡæl /
noun
gal.
4
British
abbreviation
gal
5
British
/ ɡæl /
noun
gal.
Scientific
Sensitive Note
See girl.
Etymology
Origin of gal1
First recorded in 1785–95; originally, a dialectal pronunciation of girl
Origin of gal2
First recorded in 1910–15; named after Galileo
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.
See Examples For:
Part 1: “Travel. Down your mimosas gal we’re flying easyJet’s finest aircraft to Split, Croatia.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
But I don’t feel a particular need for inspiration from the guys and gal that are running for governor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2026
In September 2023 the NRA approved Chubu Electric's estimate of 1,200 gal, a unit of acceleration used to measure the intensity of quakes.
From Barron's ● Jan. 6, 2026
These bites can cause the immune system to become sensitive to alpha gal, a sugar naturally found in meat from mammals.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 17, 2025
Dave: “Well all right, less prove dis thing right now. We’ll prove right now who love dis gal de best. How much time is you willin’ tuh make fuh Daisy?”
From "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston
"Carla. The sweetest, most sparkly gal. You made every day better and brighter with your infectious positivity," Kinney wrote.
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
“Instead of saying, ‘I know a guy,’ say, ‘I know a gal. And she can do the job,’” Rowland said.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 26, 2021
But each time I am like, “Oh, this is the gal. This is the one.”
From Slate ● Mar. 29, 2020
“It’s ridiculous. I’ve got a first cousin that’s married to an African American gal. So their kids are biracial, and I love them just like the rest of my second cousins.”
From Washington Post ● Aug. 11, 2019
“She’s my gal. Keeps me in line, I can tell you.”
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Regarding love and faith, for instance, compare Gal. v.
From Supernatural Religion, Vol. II. (of III) An Inquiry into the Reality of Divine Revelation by Walter Richard Cassels
And even in the Greek-speaking churches of St. Paul's day, that sacred word was still used side by side with its Greek equivalent, according to the witness of this and the parallel passage, Gal. iv.
From St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, Vol. I A Practical Exposition by Charles Gore
The words "fallen from Grace" are found only once in the Bible, that is in Gal. v:4.
From The Prophet Ezekiel An Analytical Exposition by Arno C. Gaebelein
No man is permitted to do everything which seemeth right in his eyes, and to follow every conceit which takes him in the head; but every man is bound to walk by rule, Gal. vi.
From The Works of Mr. George Gillespie (Vol. 1 of 2) by George Gillespie
Gal. ii. 20.... "by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me."
From Supernatural Religion, Vol. II. (of III) An Inquiry into the Reality of Divine Revelation by Walter Richard Cassels
The GAL should not be related to the singer, the document says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2021
It’s unclear whether this is a cart-before-the-horse move or if it’s being done in coordination with Montgomery’s GAL request.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2021
Maddd and N.Y.C.F.C. also are in contract to purchase the GAL factory.
From New York Times ● Feb. 7, 2020
GAL: “Get a life” and a galileo, a unit used measuring local variations in the acceleration of gravity: For some reason, whenever I start talking about the latter, I hear the former.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 21, 2015
To read this you will see you must take the first letter of each verse: TRO, Trophemus; GAL, Galliæorum; and APO, Apostolus.
From A Year's Journey through France and Part of Spain, Volume 2 by Philip Thicknesse
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
