What does girlfriend mean?
Girlfriend is an informal noun for a woman involved with someone as a romantic partner. It usually suggests a dating relationship and may imply a degree of exclusivity, but it does not by itself indicate that the couple is engaged, married, or living together. Speakers often prefer partner or spouse for longer-term or same-sex relationships, although these alternatives can carry different levels of formality and personal preference. In older usage, girlfriend could simply mean a female friend, especially when written as two words; that sense is now dated outside historical or humorous contexts. The word is common in everyday conversation, fiction, and personal accounts, where its warmth and informality are useful even when the relationship itself is serious. Its gendered form, girlfriend, is balanced by boyfriend, while the gender-neutral partner serves a broader range of relationships. Together, these terms illustrate how vocabulary can make both intimacy and social expectations visible.
nounA woman with whom one is romantically involved, especially one in a dating or unmarried relationship. In dated informal usage, it can also mean a female friend.
- A woman who is one's romantic or dating partner.
- In dated or historical informal usage, a female friend.
"He planned a quiet dinner for his girlfriend rather than arranging a large celebration."
"He introduced his girlfriend to his parents at the weekend celebration."
"In the old letter, “girlfriend” simply meant a female friend."
The standard plural adds -s; “girlfriends” can also be used informally for multiple female friends, though the plural “girl friends” is less ambiguous in that sense.
"They each introduced their girlfriends to their families."
What began as “a girl who is a friend” became an everyday word for an entire romantic relationship.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of girlfriend
The compound dates from the late nineteenth century. Early uses could refer to a female friend or sweetheart, while the modern sense of a romantic partner became established by the early twentieth century. Its components are girl and friend, and the parallel compound boyfriend records the masculine counterpart.
Related word forms
How girlfriend is actually used
The term is informal but widely used, including in serious contexts. It generally suggests a dating relationship and may imply exclusivity, but it does not itself indicate engagement, marriage, or cohabitation. For longer-term relationships, speakers may prefer “partner” or “spouse,” particularly where a gender-neutral term is preferred.