adj
Uncommon
girly
GUR-lee
Girly (adj) means Stereotypically feminine or delicate; not masculine. Example: “He teased his brother for driving such a girly car.”
adj
1
Stereotypically feminine or delicate; not masculine.
"He teased his brother for driving such a girly car."
"She loves girly things like pink nail polish and glitter."
2
Weak or feeble (informal, often dismissive).
"Don't be so girly about a little rain."
How to use girly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishStereotypically feminine in style, or (used dismissively) weak.
When to use it
The "weak" sense is dated and widely seen as sexist; best avoided in careful writing.
Common pairings
girly drink
girly colors
girly girl
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Word forms
- Plural
- girlies
- Comparative
- girlier
- Superlative
- girliest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He teased his brother for driving such a _____ car.
Etymology
Formed from girl + the adjective suffix -y.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for girly
See all rhymes for girly →Frequently asked questions
What does “girly” mean?
The word “girly” means stereotypically feminine or delicate; not masculine. In plain terms, stereotypically feminine in style, or (used dismissively) weak.
How do you pronounce “girly”?
“Girly” is pronounced GUR-lee (/ˈɡɝli/ in IPA).
How do you use “girly” in a sentence?
Here is “girly” used in a sentence: “He teased his brother for driving such a girly car.”
What is another word for “girly”?
Words with a similar meaning to “girly” include feminine, girlish, puellile, puelline, womanly and effeminate.
What is the opposite of “girly”?
The opposite of “girly” — its antonyms — are butch, hoyden, hoydenish, mannish and tomboyish.
What part of speech is “girly”?
“Girly” is an adjective.
Is “girly” a common word?
“Girly” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “girly” have?
“Girly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: stereotypically feminine or delicate; not masculine.
