girly

From girl +‎ -y.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɝli/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɜːli/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)li

girly (comparative girlier, superlative girliest)

1. Characteristic of a stereotypical girl, very effeminate, gentle; unmasculine.
   • 2014 January 31, Kelly Wallace, “Pink, princess-y and sexy too soon”, in CNN‎^[1]:

     As a mom of two girls – including one who hopes Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos calls her to play on his team in this week’s Super Bowl – I can totally relate. I, along with so many other parents, am frustrated about the definitions of what’s girly and what’s not, and the separate products and clothing offered to girls and boys.

   • 2017 July 12, Frances Cha, “Complete Korean cosmetics shopping guide”, in CNN‎^[2]:

     The Forever21 of Korean makeup, Etude House is geared toward the girliest of girls – and Japanese tourists.

   • 2025 July 25, Lindsey Ellefson, “I Knew the Viral 'Tea' App Was Trouble, but I Didn't Expect a Data Breach”, in Lifehacker‎^[3]:

     Where Lulu was a bit girlier and took more delight in gossip, Tea claims to be more focused on safety, but they general gist is similar.

2. (slang) Of, or pertaining to, a young, attractive woman; especially one who is scantily clad.

   a girly calendar

3. (slang) Weak; wussy.
   • 2013, L. A. Campbell, Cartboy and the Time Capsule, page 112:

     There was enough food for a soccer team and we were going to grill it. Our meatfest included no girly utensils, no wussy plates. Just our hands, mouths, and incisors.

• (applied to a girl or woman): feminine, girlish, puellile, puelline, womanly
• (applied to a boy or man): effeminate, unmanly

• (antonym(s) of “applied to a girl or woman”): butch, hoyden, hoydenish, mannish, masculine, tomboyish, unwomanly
• (antonym(s) of “applied to a boy or man”): butch, manly, masculine

girly (plural girlies)

1. (childish) Girl.

• See also Thesaurus:girl