girlfriend
8 synonyms and 0 antonyms for girlfriend, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A woman in an ongoing, unmarried romantic relationship with someone.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use girlfriend
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
A straightforward compound of girl + friend, formed in English.
Full origin of girlfriend →Frequently asked questions
What does “girlfriend” mean?
The word “girlfriend” means a woman in an ongoing, unmarried romantic relationship with someone. In plain terms, a female romantic partner, or (informally, especially among women) a close female friend.
How do you pronounce “girlfriend”?
“Girlfriend” is pronounced GURLF-rehnd (/ˈɡɝlfɹɛnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “girlfriend” in a sentence?
Here is “girlfriend” used in a sentence: “He's been dating the same girlfriend for three years.”
What part of speech is “girlfriend”?
“Girlfriend” is a noun.
Is “girlfriend” a common word?
“Girlfriend” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “girlfriend” have?
“Girlfriend” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a woman in an ongoing, unmarried romantic relationship with someone.
What is the difference between a girlfriend and a wife?
A girlfriend is a woman in an ongoing, unmarried romantic relationship. A wife is a woman who is legally married to her partner. The key difference is marriage: a girlfriend relationship carries no formal legal status, while a marriage is a legal and often ceremonial commitment. A girlfriend may later become a wife.
Does girlfriend always mean a romantic partner?
Not always. In its main sense, a girlfriend is a woman in a romantic relationship. But the word is also used casually, especially among women, to mean a close female friend — as in "a night out with my girlfriends." Context and tone usually make the intended meaning clear.