GIRLFRIEND

girlfriend, girl, lady friend

(noun) a girl or young woman with whom a man is romantically involved; “his girlfriend kicked him out”

girlfriend

(noun) any female friend; “Mary and her girlfriend organized the party”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

girlfriend (plural girlfriends)

A female partner in an unmarried romantic relationship.

Coordinate terms: boyfriend, fiancée, lover, partner, significant other, sweetheart, wife, lady friend

A female friend.

Synonym: chickfriend (slang)

Coordinate terms: buddy, friend, pal, BFF

Usage notes

• The term is used to refer to any girl or woman in a romantic relationship with another person.

• An adult woman in such a non-marital relationship is sometimes referred to instead as a significant other or partner, especially if the two partners are living together. Because girlfriend and partner mean different things to different people, the distinctions between the terms are subjective, and which term is used in a relationship will ultimately be determined by personal preference.

• The use of girlfriend for a female non-romantic friend of another female is limited in geographic distribution and sometimes preferred by older generations of speakers.