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:
Next up came the second part’s “Say It’s Not You,” George Jones’s plaintive, twangy ballad about a man’s fears that his gal is being unfaithful.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 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
Testing showed that he had indeed been sensitized to alpha gal.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 17, 2025
That style was even referenced in the film Something's Gotta Give, in which Keaton told Jack Nicholson's character that she's "just a turtleneck kinda gal".
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2025
“What’s that you say, gal? You never had no Hoppin’ John?
From "Copper Sun" by Sharon M. Draper
"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
He turned to Mr. Leroy, “I told you, Leroy, we should’ve got that little Collins gal. That’s one bright child there. This boy ain’t too far from being daft.”
From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis
Paul, in Gal. v., points out the fruits which follow faith.
From The Epistles of St. Peter and St. Jude Preached and Explained by E. H. (Ezra Hall) Gillett
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
See Matt. vii: 12, and Gal. v: 14.
From The Seventh Day Sabbath, a Perpetual Sign 1847 edition by Joseph Bates
They are, therefore, greatly mistaken, who conclude from Paul's not circumcising of Titus, Gal. ii.
From The Works of Mr. George Gillespie (Vol. 1 of 2) by George Gillespie
To attribute them to the Pillar of Gal. ii.
From The Making of the New Testament by Benjamin Wisner Bacon
In the document, which included a full transcript of Spears’ June 23 court testimony, Montgomery stated that having a GAL “would honor Ms. Spears’ wishes while still protecting her best interests.”
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
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
