girlish

American  

[gur-lish] / ˈgɜr lɪʃ /

adjective

1. of, like, or befitting a girl or girlhood.

   girlish laughter.

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girlish British  

/ ˈɡɜːlɪʃ /

adjective

1. of or like a girl in looks, behaviour, innocence, etc

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Other Word Forms

• girlishly adverb
• girlishness noun
• ungirlish adjective
• ungirlishly adverb
• ungirlishness noun

Etymology

Origin of girlish

First recorded in 1555–65; girl + -ish ¹

Example Sentences

Isolde is a mercurial character, and Ms. Davidsen expressed her simmering rage, her girlish flirtatiousness, and her serenity in the “Liebestod.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

Hello Kitty launched as the Japanese 'kawaii' culture — a hyperfeminine, girlish aesthetic — gained popularity across the world.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

She could be sweet, evil, overbearing, put-upon, thoughtful, impulsive, girlish, vulnerable or manipulative and superimpose selected qualities for extra complexity, always with a compressed energy, obvious or veiled.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 30, 2024

Often, Bannon will toss the mic, virtually, to his 23-year-old co-host Natalie Winters, a blond Californian who has a side business selling a girlish right-wing clothing line.

From Slate • Nov. 25, 2024

Her wedding gown, ivory like her veil, was simple and girlish, and hiked at the rear to accommodate her tail.

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck