girl

[ gurl ]

noun

1. a female child, from birth to full growth.
2. a young, immature woman, especially formerly, an unmarried one.
3. a daughter:

   My wife and I have two girls.

4. Informal: Sometimes Offensive. a grown woman, especially when referred to familiarly:

   She's having the girls over for bridge next week.

5. a girlfriend; sweetheart.
6. Older Use: Usually Offensive. a female servant, as a maid.
7. Older Use: Usually Offensive. a female employee, especially an office assistant.
8. a female who is from or native to a given place:

   She's a Missouri girl.

9. 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.
10. girls, Slang. one's breasts (usually preceded by the, my, etc., and primarily used self-referentially by women).

girl

/ ɡɜːl /

noun

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

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

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.

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)

Word History and Origins

Origin of girl¹

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

Example Sentences

As a girl, Saada Arbane had her throat cut in an Islamist militant attack that wiped out most of her family, and now communicates through a speaking tube.

From BBC

The unprescribed medication was administered for more than a year and led to the girl needing a long stay at a children’s hospital, unable to eat or drink and needing 10 blood transfusions.

From BBC

After returning home and seeing pictures and chats, the girl's mother reported the relationship to Dubai police, who then arrested Mr Fakana at his hotel, Ms Stirling said.

From BBC

Paul, her stepfather, said the girl suffered with a short-term memory problem that affected her ability to learn.

From BBC

I’m sure she did that as well, but she also took the time to be pals with me, just talk about girl stuff and things that I haven’t done yet.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• child
• kid
• little one
• young one
• youngster

More About Girl

Where does the word girl come from?

The word girl, meaning “a female child,” originally meant any “child” or “young person,” regardless of gender. Girl, for “child,” is recorded around 1250–1300.

However, the original source of the word is uncertain. Scholars point to Old English words like gyrela, “an item of dress, apparel,” presumably of a type worn by and popular with a young person back then.

Guess what other word has obscure roots? Boy. Discover why in our slideshow “‘Dog,’ ‘Boy,’ And Other Words That We Don’t Know Where They Came From.”

Did you know … ?

While it is usually used to mean “female child,” the word girl is also sometimes used in reference to young adult or adult women, such as in girl bands or a girlfriend. Parents also use the word girls for their daughters of any age.

While it is often used in a similar manner to its male counterpart boy, the word girl can have sexist implications that boy does not—although boy has its own racist past. For example, the idea of “a boy acting like a girl” is often used as a sexist or even anti-gay insult that doesn’t have an exact equivalent in “a girl acting like a boy.” The word tomboy, in fact, can often carry a positive connotation.

Similarly, referring to adult women as girls can have demeaning or sexist implications that aren’t always as prevalent when using boy to refer to an adult man (e.g., “Boys will be boys”).

That said, please note that referring to a Black adult man or other male members of minority groups as boy is racist.