plural girls
1
a(1)
: a female child from birth to adulthood
a seven-year-old girl
(2)
: a person whose gender identity is female
… narrator Taylor Meskimen draws listeners into the emotional life of Zenobia July, a tech-savvy trans girl who's facing a new year at a new middle school.—
Rebecca Honeycutt
Rebecca Honeycutt
b
: daughter
Papa's answer was quiet. "I thought I taught you to read, my girl."—Markus Zusak
Markus Zusak
c
: a young woman
d
sometimes offensive
: a single or married woman of any age
2
: a female romantic partner : girlfriend
3
US, informal
a
: a female friend
I love going to a spa and dinner with my girls.—Karen Clifton
Karen Clifton
b
—used as a friendly way of addressing a woman or girl
Hey girl, I like your taste in Christmas gifts.—Miranda Crace
Miranda CraceGirl, you need to give yourself some credit.—John Van Meter
John Van Meter4
: a woman or girl native to a given place
a local girl
She was a city girl at heart.
5
: a female domesticated animal and especially a pet
She … is still mastering the art of being a good girl, as any 3-month-old puppy is.—Rotorua (New Zealand) Weekender
Rotorua (New Zealand) WeekenderKeeping low-key when leaving and returning is essential. Just a "Bye!" and "Be a good girl!" when you leave is plenty. Your dog will be busy with her goodies dispenser, anyway, and probably won't notice when you leave.—Ed Bailey
Ed BaileyEve is a 10-year-old female kitty who is an independent pretty girl …—Jackson (Michigan) Citizen Patriot: Web Edition Articles
Jackson (Michigan) Citizen Patriot: Web Edition Articles6
dated, offensive
: a female servant or enslaved woman
also
: a female employee
Examples of girl in a Sentence
Is this your little girl?
a group of teenage girls
His parents hope he'll soon find a nice girl, settle down, and get married.
Wait till the girls back home hear about this!
Our boss thinks of herself as just one of the girls.
She went out dancing with the girls.
They just hired a new girl to do the filing.
Recent Examples on the Web
Upper Darby Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt told 6 ABC that investigators believe a group of friends, who included two boys and two girls, were hanging out at the home when the fatal shooting occurred.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
Exactly one year after nipping Marist in the state finals at Duluth’s Cecil Morris Field, the Blessed Trinity Titans did it again in an identical manner, edging Marist 1-0 in the GHSA Class 4A girls’ soccer state championship game on Friday night.
—Jeff Gable, AJC.com, 16 May 2026
With the state’s gubernatorial election coming up this year, and the issue of protecting girls’ sports being at the top of Viola’s issue, Viola is planning to vote for Sheriff Chad Bianco.
—Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
Little Joe has spent 30 years in Boston, making headlines after escaping in 2003, running through the streets of the city, and injuring a little girl.
—Samantha Chaney, CBS News, 16 May 2026
Two suspects charged in the disappearance of a 16-year-old northern Missouri girl found dead this week are now charged with killing her.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026
The little girl was holding her mom’s hand when three men opened fire on a rival group near Southern Blvd.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
The term refers to the intentional killing of Black women and girls rooted in misogyny which most often occurs at the hands of their intimate partners.
—Miami Herald, 16 May 2026
Ugh, this girl is just using Carter to get beer?
—William Earl, Variety, 15 May 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
Exactly one year after nipping Marist in the state finals at Duluth’s Cecil Morris Field, the Blessed Trinity Titans did it again in an identical manner, edging Marist 1-0 in the GHSA Class 4A girls’ soccer state championship game on Friday night.
—Jeff Gable, AJC.com, 16 May 2026
With the state’s gubernatorial election coming up this year, and the issue of protecting girls’ sports being at the top of Viola’s issue, Viola is planning to vote for Sheriff Chad Bianco.
—Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
Little Joe has spent 30 years in Boston, making headlines after escaping in 2003, running through the streets of the city, and injuring a little girl.
—Samantha Chaney, CBS News, 16 May 2026
Two suspects charged in the disappearance of a 16-year-old northern Missouri girl found dead this week are now charged with killing her.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026
The little girl was holding her mom’s hand when three men opened fire on a rival group near Southern Blvd.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026
The term refers to the intentional killing of Black women and girls rooted in misogyny which most often occurs at the hands of their intimate partners.
—Miami Herald, 16 May 2026
Ugh, this girl is just using Carter to get beer?
—William Earl, Variety, 15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Girl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/girl. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
girl
noun1
a
: a female child
b
: a young woman
2
offensive
: a female servant
—used especially in the past
3
Etymology
Middle English gurle, girle "a young person of either sex"
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