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
/ ɡæl /
noun
Gal.
2
British
abbreviation
gal.
3
British
abbreviation
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
The old gal had a rough year in 2025, and 2026 isn’t promising to be any better.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 15, 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
That doctor contacted Platts Mills and his team to explore whether alpha gal sensitivity could be involved.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 17, 2025
Then I heard the gal say, 'Daddy,' soft and low in her sleep and I looked, tryin' to see if she was still awake.
From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison
“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
“I’m a mainstream media gal. I don’t think the government is after me,” she said.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 28, 2017
“She’s my gal. Keeps me in line, I can tell you.”
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Fato, in Gal. as in Port. = a herd or flock.
From The Bible in Spain - Vol. 2 [of 2] by George Henry Borrow
Sunday after Christmas, Mark i. 1-8; Gal. i. 11-19.
From A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament, Vol. I. by Frederick Henry Ambrose Scrivener
There is a singular charm, a charm that one can scarcely explain, in the words of Paul in Gal. v.
From The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit by R. A. (Reuben Archer) Torrey
“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump,” Gal. v.
From The Works of Mr. George Gillespie (Vol. 1 of 2) by George Gillespie
This condemning law is delivered in a Mediator's hand, even Jesus Christ, Gal. iii.
From The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning by Hugh Binning
A GAL looks out for a person who is allegedly incapable of making their own decisions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2021
Jamie responded to that filing July 8 by saying, basically, that he was fine with having the GAL petition considered at today’s hearing.
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.
