English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj

girly

GUR-lee
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 notes

In 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

Word Forms

girlier comparative, girlies plural, girliest superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “girly” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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.

Related Words

Rhymes for girly

See all rhymes for girly →

People Also Searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial