girlfriend

noun

girl·​friend ˈgər(-ə)l-ˌfrend How to pronounce girlfriend (audio)
Synonyms of girlfriendnext
1
: a female friend
2
: a frequent or regular female companion in a romantic or sexual relationship

Synonyms of girlfriend

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Examples of girlfriend in a Sentence

My girlfriend and I have only been dating for a couple of months. She spends hours talking on the phone with her girlfriends.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Jones was often jealous, distrustful, possessive and controlling of his girlfriend, according to the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026 The show follows the wives, girlfriends and partners of prisoners, with Glen playing a career criminal whose lavish lifestyle is running out, along with his money. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026 An internal investigation led authorities to find that Vaughn had used the system to search for a license plate associated with his former girlfriend's vehicle multiple times over the course of about a week in 2025, officials said. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026 The suspect wanted for pushing his estranged girlfriend and her infant daughter off their 15th-floor Bronx balcony, killing the woman, has been arrested — and smiled shamelessly when escorted to court by cops to face justice Thursday. — Theodore Parisienne, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for girlfriend

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of girlfriend was in 1859

Rhymes for girlfriend

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Browse Nearby Words

girl Friday
girlfriend
Girl Guide
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Cite this Entry

“Girlfriend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/girlfriend. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

girlfriend

noun
girl·​friend ˈgər(-ə)l-ˌfrend How to pronounce girlfriend (audio)
1
: a female friend
2
: a regular female companion in a romantic relationship
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