girlboss

American  

[gurl-baws, -bos] / ˈgɜrlˌbɔs, -ˌbɒs /

noun

Informal.

1. a woman, especially a young woman, who is ambitious and successful in her career.

   This guide will help you get it together so that you can accomplish your goals and be a girlboss!

   My girlboss of a sister graduated five years ago and has already been promoted twice.

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Etymology

Origin of girlboss

Popularized in 2014 by U.S. businesswoman Sophia Amoruso (born 1984) in her book Girlboss; girl ( def. ) + boss ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

That can feel like a threat to the girlboss part of your brain.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

In her fourth outing with Mr. Lanthimos, Emma Stone again shows an impressively daring quality in a grueling and degrading role, which spoofs today’s clichés about girlboss power.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025

"Channel that anger into getting what you want," she advises, like a girlboss cross stitch.

From Salon • Sep. 22, 2022

This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss England’s late queen and new prime minister, the troubles of DWAC’s SPAC, and the demise of girlboss hangout The Wing.

From Slate • Sep. 10, 2022

In the film, Asha, a certified girlboss, starts to resent the expectation that she entertain those matchmaking efforts.

From Washington Post • Aug. 17, 2022