girlfriend

noun

girl·​friend ˈgər(-ə)l-ˌfrend 

1

: a female friend

2

: a frequent or regular female companion in a romantic or sexual relationship

Synonyms of girlfriend

• woman
• girl
• lady
• lover

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

Earlier Thursday, James Pavatt, 73, received a lethal injection at an Oklahoma prison for the fatal shooting of his girlfriend's estranged husband in 2001. — Arkansas Online, 13 Nov. 2026

Crow-Armstrong’s parents, Matt Armstrong and Ashley Crow, along with his girlfriend and lifelong friends who traveled to be present for the announcement, all came together to share in his MVP moment. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2026

California surfing legend Kurt Van Dyke’s murder, initially reported as a home invasion in which his girlfriend had been zip-tied, sent shock waves through the surf community earlier this year. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2026

The witness said that during the shooting and standoff with police, his girlfriend barricaded herself in the apartment, which is now under an inch of water from the response to a fire at the scene. — Anna Schecter, CBS News, 12 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for girlfriend

• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend
• boyfriend
• commend
• compend
• contend
• defend
• depend

Kids Definition

girlfriend

noun

girl·​friend ˈgər(-ə)l-ˌfrend 

1

: a female friend

2

: a regular female companion in a romantic relationship