girlfriend

noun

girl·​friend ˈgər(-ə)l-ˌfrend How to pronounce girlfriend (audio)
1
: a female friend
2
: a frequent or regular female companion in a romantic or sexual relationship

Examples of girlfriend in a Sentence

My girlfriend and I have only been dating for a couple of months. She spends hours talking on the phone with her girlfriends.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In one incident that took place in Grand Lake, a man shot and killed a cow moose that had knocked down his girlfriend in her yard and was trying to stomp her. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 19 June 2025 Another featured a man yelling at his girlfriend of three years regarding her recent miscarriage. Rachel Hale, USA Today, 19 June 2025 Coronel was on his way to his girlfriend’s home, prosecutors say, while Gonzalez was walking in the street near the Nisson Road and Del Amy Avenue intersection. Sean Emery, Oc Register, 18 June 2025 The shooting was captured on Facebook Live as Collins’ girlfriend streamed video of the three riding in a car shortly before 1:30 p.m. near the woman’s home at Ogden and Kostner avenues in the Lawndale neighborhood. Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for girlfriend

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of girlfriend was in 1859

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Girlfriend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/girlfriend. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

girlfriend

noun
girl·​friend ˈgər(-ə)l-ˌfrend How to pronounce girlfriend (audio)
1
: a female friend
2
: a regular female companion in a romantic relationship

More from Merriam-Webster on girlfriend

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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