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:
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
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
That doctor contacted Platts Mills and his team to explore whether alpha gal sensitivity could be involved.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 17, 2025
Anybody who was husband fodder for a country gal like Tansy would have to stand up to butchering day.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
“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
The sheriff said, “All right, gal. Your carriage awaits. You ’bout to go home; come on.”
From "The Journey of Little Charlie" by Christopher Paul Curtis
I then spoke a few words from Gal. vi.
From The Story of My Life Being Reminiscences of Sixty Years' Public Service in Canada by J. George (John George) Hodgins
Indeed, Barnabas's vacillation at Antioch, as recorded in Gal. ii.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 3 "Banks" to "Bassoon" by Various
In Gal. ii. 15-21 we have Paul's own statement of the essential issue as it still appeared to his clear mind.
From The Making of the New Testament by Benjamin Wisner Bacon
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
It is necessary for serving one another in love, Gal. v.
From A Hind Let Loose Or, An Historical Representation of the Testimonies of the Church of Scotland for the Interest of Christ. With the True State Thereof in All Its Periods by Alexander Shields
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.
