View synonyms for girl

girl

[ gurl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a female child, from birth to full growth.
a young, immature woman, especially formerly, an unmarried one.
a daughter:
My wife and I have two girls.
Informal: Sometimes Offensive. a grown woman, especially when referred to familiarly:
She's having the girls over for bridge next week.
a girlfriend; sweetheart.
Older Use: Usually Offensive. a female servant, as a maid.
Older Use: Usually Offensive. a female employee, especially an office assistant.
a female who is from or native to a given place:
She's a Missouri girl.
girls, (used with a singular or plural verb)
1. a range of sizes from 7 to 14, for garments made for girls.
2. a garment in this size range.
3. the department or section of a store where these garments are sold.
girls, Slang. one's breasts (usually preceded by the, my, etc., and primarily used self-referentially by women).

girl

/ ɡɜːl /

noun

a female child from birth to young womanhood
a young unmarried woman; lass; maid
informal.
a sweetheart or girlfriend
informal.
a woman of any age
See daughter
an informal word for daughter
a female employee, esp a female servant
derogatory.
a Black female servant of any age
the girls informal.
the girls usually plural a group of women, esp acquaintances

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Sensitive Note

Some adult women are offended if referred to as a girl, or informally, a gal. However, a group of adult female friends often refer to themselves as the girls, and their “girls night out” implies the company of adult females. Also, a woman may express camaraderie by addressing another woman as girl, as in You go, girl! or Attagirl! Referring to one's female office assistant or housekeeper as the girl or my girl, once in common use, is now considered unacceptable. Working girl, meaning “a woman who works,” girl/gal Friday, meaning “a female office assistant,” and other occupational terms such as career girl and college girl, are also dated and often perceived as insulting. Working girl as a slang term meaning “a prostitute” is sometimes used by female prostitutes as a euphemistic self-reference. lady, woman.

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Usage

The use of girl as in meaning 4 , to refer to a woman of any age, is highly likely to be considered old-fashioned or to cause offence

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Word History and Origins

Origin of girl¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English gurle, girle, gerle “child, young person”; compare Old English gyrela, gi(e)rela “item of dress, apparel” (presumably worn by the young in the late Old English period, and hence used as a metonym)

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Word History and Origins

Origin of girl¹

C13: of uncertain origin; perhaps related to Low German Göre boy, girl

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Example Sentences

The brother of a girl who made her debut in New Orleans society was shaking his fists in excitement.

From The Daily Beast

But, but … there was a token black girl in the background, Target cried in its defense!

From The Daily Beast

Once upon a time, a girl named Onika Maraj dreamed of being an actress.

From The Daily Beast

But religious tolerance would be a wholesome goodie for every boy and girl.

From The Daily Beast

They made quiet plans together, saying that when they had a child together, they wanted a girl called Grace.

From The Daily Beast

Was he really condemned to an eternal solitude because of the girl who had died so many years ago?

From Project Gutenberg

The two little Pontelliers were with him, and he carried Madame Ratignolle's little girl in his arms.

From Project Gutenberg

"I hope you don't think I speak always to strangers, like that," said the girl in the rose hat.

From Project Gutenberg

The young man smiled at the girl, as he crushed up the notes and stuffed them into his pocket.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes it was a young girl, again a widow; but as often as not it was some interesting married woman.

From Project Gutenberg

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