girl-friend

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A female companion or romantic partner: "girl-friend" primarily refers to a woman with whom someone has a romantic or sexual relationship. It is used to describe a person's partner, typically outside of marriage.
   • A female friend: In informal usage, "girl-friend" can also mean a close female friend, though this meaning is less common and often distinguished by context.

Usage Examples

• A romantic partner:

  • He introduced his girl-friend to his parents at the family dinner. (Here, "girl-friend" means a romantic partner, not a platonic friend.)

• A female friend:

  • She went shopping with her girl-friend from college. (In this context, "girl-friend" means a close female friend, not a romantic partner.)

• Clarifying context:

  • I have a girl-friend, but we are just friends. (This can be ambiguous; it is often used to mean a platonic female friend, but the speaker may need to clarify to avoid confusion about romantic involvement.)

Advanced Usage

• "Girl-friend" vs. "girlfriend": The spelling "girlfriend" (one word) is more common in modern English for the romantic partner meaning, while "girl-friend" (with a hyphen) is sometimes used to emphasize the platonic meaning or to avoid ambiguity. However, the hyphenated form is less frequent and may appear dated or formal.
  • She is my girl-friend, not my girlfriend. (The speaker distinguishes between a friend and a romantic partner.)

Variants and Related Words

• Girlfriend (noun, common spelling): the standard modern spelling for a romantic female partner.

  • His girlfriend gave him a watch for his birthday. (Romantic partner.)

• Boyfriend (noun): a male romantic partner.

  • She has a boyfriend who lives in another city. (Male romantic partner.)

• Friend (noun): a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations.

  • They have been close friends since childhood. (Platonic relationship.)

Synonyms

• Partner: a person with whom one shares a romantic relationship.

  • Her partner accompanied her to the wedding. (Romantic partner, often used to avoid gender specification.)

• Sweetheart: a person with whom one is in love.

  • He brought his sweetheart flowers. (Romantic partner, more affectionate or old-fashioned.)

• Companion: a person with whom one spends time, often implying friendship or romantic involvement.

  • She is his constant companion on trips. (Could be friend or romantic partner.)

Related Idioms

• "To be someone's girl-friend": to be in a romantic relationship with someone.

  • She is his girl-friend, and they have been together for two years. (Romantic relationship.)

• "To have a girl-friend": to be in a romantic relationship or to have a female friend.

  • He does not have a girl-friend at the moment. (Could mean no romantic partner or no close female friend, depending on context.)