What does girlhood mean?
Girlhood means the state and period of being a girl, most commonly during childhood and early adolescence. It can describe a person's life stage, as in a memoir about girlhood, or the experiences, qualities, and social world associated with that stage, such as early friendships, coming of age, or a sense of youthful innocence. The word is often used in reflective and literary contexts, where it carries nostalgic or historical associations, though it can also be used in straightforward biographical or sociological writing. Compared with the broader word childhood, girlhood specifically foregrounds a girl's identity and may include adolescence as well as childhood. In a general sense, it can also refer to girlhood as a cultural or social experience shared by girls. The term is useful when the focus is not merely on a child's age, but on the distinctive experiences and meanings associated with growing up as a girl.
nounThe state or period of being a girl, especially during childhood and early adolescence. It can also refer to the experiences, qualities, and social world associated with that period.
- The state or period of being a girl, especially during childhood and adolescence.
- The experiences, qualities, and social world associated with being a girl.
"She looked back on her girlhood with a mixture of affection and bemusement."
"The book traces the protagonist's girlhood in a small coastal town."
"Her stories celebrate the friendships and discoveries of girlhood."
The plural is grammatically regular but uncommon; it is most natural when contrasting different individuals' experiences of girlhood.
"The exhibition brings together the contrasting girlhoods of several generations of women."
Girlhood captures a whole stage of life: the years in which a girl is shaped by childhood, adolescence, and the beginning of adult identity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does girlhood come from?
Girlhood is an English compound formed from the word girl and the suffix -hood, which indicates a state, condition, quality, or period. The suffix is related to Old English forms used to form abstract nouns, and the compound itself dates from the early 17th century. The word belongs to a wider family of English formations in -hood, such as boyhood, manhood, and womanhood.
How girlhood is actually used
The word is standard in English and can be formal or literary. It is often used with a nostalgic, reflective, or historical tone, especially when referring to memories of childhood and adolescence.