Definition

Noun: 1. A woman with whom a man has a romantic or intimate relationship; a female romantic partner. 2. (Less commonly) A female friend, though this usage often implies a close or special friendship and can be ambiguous.

Usage

• The term "lady friend" is used to refer to a man's romantic partner in a somewhat polite, formal, or old-fashioned way. It is often used when the speaker wishes to be discreet or when the exact nature of the relationship (e.g., girlfriend, partner, date) is unspecified or informal.
• It can sometimes be used humorously or euphemistically.
• The phrase directly modifies the core word "friend" with "lady," specifying the gender and often the romantic context.

Examples

• Noun:
  • He brought his lady friend to the company dinner.
  • My grandfather often spoke fondly of a lady friend he knew in his youth.
  • He's out for a walk with his lady friend.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used in possessive constructions to clearly indicate the relationship: "his lady friend," "my lady friend," "Tom's lady friend."
• It is sometimes used in contrast to "gentleman friend" for a woman's male romantic partner.

Variants and Related Words

• Girlfriend (n): A more common and direct term for a regular female romantic partner.
• Partner (n): A modern, neutral term for a person in a committed relationship, regardless of gender or marital status.
• Companion (n): Can imply a romantic partner, especially in more formal contexts, or simply a close friend.
• Date (n): A person with whom one has a social or romantic appointment.

Synonyms

• Girlfriend
• Romantic partner
• Significant other
• Companion (context-dependent)

Notes on Meaning

• The primary and most common meaning is a romantic partner. While the words "lady" and "friend" individually do not denote romance, the combined phrase "lady friend" in contemporary usage strongly implies a romantic connection when referring to a man's associate.
• The secondary meaning of a platonic female friend is now less common and can lead to misunderstanding, as listeners will typically assume a romantic relationship.

Noun

1. a girl or young woman with whom a man is romantically involved
   • his girlfriend kicked him out