girlfriend
GURLF-rehnd
Girlfriend (noun) means a woman in an ongoing, unmarried romantic relationship with someone. Example: “He's been dating the same girlfriend for three years.”
noun
1
A woman in an ongoing, unmarried romantic relationship with someone.
"He's been dating the same girlfriend for three years."
"She brought her girlfriend to the wedding."
"He bought flowers for his girlfriend on the day they first met."
2
A close female friend.
"My oldest girlfriend from school still phones me every Sunday for a long chat."
"Ruth invited a few girlfriends round for tea and a gossip."
"She spent Saturday shopping with her girlfriends."
How to use girlfriend
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA female romantic partner, or (informally, especially among women) a close female friend.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
his girlfriend
girlfriends night out
ex-girlfriend
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Word forms
- Plural
- girlfriends
- Third person singular
- girlfriends
- Past tense
- girlfriended
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He's been dating the same _____ for three years.
Etymology
A straightforward compound of girl + friend, formed in English.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for girlfriend
See all rhymes for 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.
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