plural girls
1
a(1)
: a female child from birth to adulthood
a seven-year-old girl
(2)
: a person whose gender identity is female
… narrator Taylor Meskimen draws listeners into the emotional life of Zenobia July, a tech-savvy trans girl who's facing a new year at a new middle school.Rebecca Honeycutt
b
: daughter
Papa's answer was quiet. "I thought I taught you to read, my girl."Markus Zusak
c
: a young woman
d
sometimes offensive : a single or married woman of any age
2
: a female romantic partner : girlfriend
3
US, informal
a
: a female friend
I love going to a spa and dinner with my girls.Karen Clifton
b
used as a friendly way of addressing a woman or girl
Hey girl, I like your taste in Christmas gifts.Miranda Crace
Girl, you need to give yourself some credit.John Van Meter
4
: a woman or girl native to a given place
a local girl
She was a city girl at heart.
5
: a female domesticated animal and especially a pet
She … is still mastering the art of being a good girl, as any 3-month-old puppy is.Rotorua (New Zealand) Weekender
Keeping low-key when leaving and returning is essential. Just a "Bye!" and "Be a good girl!" when you leave is plenty. Your dog will be busy with her goodies dispenser, anyway, and probably won't notice when you leave.Ed Bailey
Eve is a 10-year-old female kitty who is an independent pretty girlJackson (Michigan) Citizen Patriot: Web Edition Articles
6
dated, offensive : a female servant or enslaved woman
also : a female employee
girlhood noun

Examples of girl in a Sentence

Is this your little girl? a group of teenage girls His parents hope he'll soon find a nice girl, settle down, and get married. Wait till the girls back home hear about this! Our boss thinks of herself as just one of the girls. She went out dancing with the girls. They just hired a new girl to do the filing.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gurle, girle young person of either sex

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1c

Time Traveler
The first known use of girl was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near girl

Cite this Entry

“Girl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/girl. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

girl

noun
1
a
: a female child
b
: a young woman
2
sometimes offensive : a female servant
3
girlhood noun
girlish
ˈgər-lish
adjective
girlishly adverb
girlishness noun
Etymology

Middle English gurle, girle "a young person of either sex"

More from Merriam-Webster on girl

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