girlfriend
girl-friend · noun
Definitions
noun
- 1.
A woman or girl with whom someone has a romantic relationship.
- 2.
A female friend, especially among women (often used in plural).
Forms
plural: girlfriends
Phrases & expressions
- •ex-girlfriend — a former romantic partner
- •girlfriend material — a person considered suitable for a romantic relationship
Related words
Antonyms: boyfriend
Etymology
Compound of "girl" + "friend," first recorded in the early 20th century in the romantic sense. The friendship sense among women dates from the 1850s.