What does girly mean?
Girly is an informal English adjective describing something regarded as characteristically feminine, especially if it is delicate, playful, colorful, ornate, or otherwise marked by conventions associated with girls and women. In neutral or positive use, it might characterize pastel colors, a floral dress, a lace-trimmed fabric, or a decorative arrangement. In less neutral use, it can suggest that something is excessively feminine, affected, childish, or unsuitable in a particular setting. The expression is especially common in speech and informal writing, and its force depends heavily on tone: it may sound affectionate when discussing fashion or decoration, but patronizing when used to comment on a person's manner or appearance. Girly is also useful for recognizing how language can encode assumptions about gender. Describing a voice, garment, room, or style as girly does not merely report that it is feminine in a biological sense; it invokes social expectations about femininity and can therefore be critical as well as descriptive.
adjectiveHaving qualities, styles, or behavior traditionally associated with girls or women, especially in a delicate, playful, or exaggerated manner. The word is usually informal and can sound patronizing or judgmental.
- Having qualities, styles, or behavior traditionally associated with girls or women.
- Exaggeratedly, affectedly, or excessively feminine, sometimes with the implication of childishness or insincerity.
"She gave the room an unmistakably girly touch with pale pink curtains and floral cushions."
"She gave the room an unmistakably girly touch with pale pink curtains and floral cushions."
"The commentator's increasingly high voice sounded oddly girly by the end of the match."
Add one tiny suffix to a neutral noun and a gender stereotype appears: girl becomes girly.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How girly is actually used
Girly is common in everyday speech but is rarely used in formal writing. It can be approving when describing clothing, colors, names, or decorative details, but may be dismissive or belittling when applied to a person's behavior, appearance, or voice. Some speakers avoid it because it relies on conventional ideas about gender.
Easily confused with girly
Girly is the standard modern spelling, while girlie is a variant spelling and pronunciation still encountered in informal and older usage.