girlfriend
UK: /ˈɡɜːl.frend/ | US: /ˈɡɝːl.frend/
n. a female romantic partner
n. a close female friend (colloquial, non-romantic)
The word "girlfriend" emerged in the mid-19th century, combining "girl" (from Old English gyrela, meaning "young person of either sex," later narrowed to "young female") and "friend" (from Old English frēond, meaning "loved one" or "companion"). Initially, it simply denoted a female friend, but by the early 20th century, it acquired its dominant romantic sense. The morphemes reflect a straightforward compounding of two familiar English words, making its meaning transparent to modern speakers.
She introduced her girlfriend to the family at Thanksgiving.
My girlfriend and I have been dating for two years.
They’ve been best friends since childhood, but she jokingly calls her "my girlfriend."
He surprised his girlfriend with flowers on her birthday.
In her letter, she referred to her roommate as her "college girlfriend."