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Girlfriend
A girlfriend is a female partner in a non-marital romantic relationship, or
a female friend.
Scope
The term is most commonly used to describe any female person who is in a
romantic relationship with another person.
An older woman in such a non-marital relationship is sometimes described
instead as a significant other or partner, especially if the two partners
are living together. At times, since "girlfriend" and "partner" mean
different things to different people, the distinctions between the terms are
subjective, and which term is used in a relationship will ultimately be
determined by personal preference.
When used by a girl or woman about another female in a non-sexual,
non-romantic context, the 2-word form "girl friend" is usually used to avoid
confusion with the romantic meaning.
Though nuanced, there is a significant difference between girlfriend and
boyfriend, and girl friend and boy friend. In a strictly grammatical sense,
a girlfriend or boyfriend is an 'individual of significance' with whom one
shares a relationship. A girl friend or boy friend, however, is simply a
friend identified on the basis of gender.
Synonyms
* A female engaged in an extramarital relationship with a married person is
frequently considered a "mistress".
* Some terms of endearment directed to females, a romantic relationship is
not required, are "darling", "sweetheart", "lover", etc.
* Users of Internet slang often shorten girlfriend to the acronym gf.[1]
Notes and references
1. ^ [1]
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