English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Uncommon

Jill

jihl
Quiz me More like this

Jill (noun) means an old-fashioned informal term for a young woman or sweetheart, as in the phrase "every Jack has his Jill.". Example: “The saying goes that every Jack finds his Jill eventually.”

noun
1
An old-fashioned informal term for a young woman or sweetheart, as in the phrase "every Jack has his Jill."
"The saying goes that every Jack finds his Jill eventually."

How to use Jill

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn old-fashioned word for a girlfriend or sweetheart, mainly surviving in the phrase pairing it with "Jack."

Common pairings
every Jack has his Jill
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Jill.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Plural
Jills
Third person singular
jills
Past tense
jilled
Test yourself on “Jill” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The saying goes that every Jack finds his _____ eventually.

Etymology

A variant of "Gill," a diminutive of the name Gillian, itself from Latin Juliana.

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for Jill

See all rhymes for Jill →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Jill” mean?
The word “Jill” means an old-fashioned informal term for a young woman or sweetheart, as in the phrase "every Jack has his Jill.". In plain terms, an old-fashioned word for a girlfriend or sweetheart, mainly surviving in the phrase pairing it with "Jack.".
How do you pronounce “Jill”?
“Jill” is pronounced jihl (/d͡ʒɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “Jill” in a sentence?
Here is “Jill” used in a sentence: “The saying goes that every Jack finds his Jill eventually.”
What part of speech is “Jill”?
“Jill” is a noun.
Where does the word “Jill” come from?
The word “Jill” comes from Latin. A variant of "Gill," a diminutive of the name Gillian, itself from Latin Juliana.
Is “Jill” a common word?
“Jill” is an uncommon word in modern English.
Is Jill still used to mean a girlfriend today?
Jill as an informal term for a young woman or sweetheart is old-fashioned and now rarely used outside of set phrases like "every Jack has his Jill." In modern English it survives mainly as a given name rather than a general term.
Is Jill a formal or informal term?
Jill, when used generically for a young woman or sweetheart rather than as a proper name, is informal and old-fashioned rather than formal English.

Featured in

People also searched