girlfriend

Etymology

girl + friend

noun

1. A female partner in an unmarried romantic relationship.
   Marc went to the park with his girlfriend and watched the sunset with her.
   Want to pick some flowers, doctor? When a man visits an old girlfriend she usually expects something like that. 1966, “The Man Trap”, in Star Trek: The Original Series, season 1, episode 1 (television production), spoken by Capt. James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Paramount Pictures
2. A female friend.
   Mary always enjoyed hanging out with her girlfriend Jessica.
   […] for the past 45 years, Neri had sat outside with her girlfriends Fotini and Eleni, two school friends who, having grown old in their company, Neri loved dearly. 2018, Shiv Kotecha, The Switch, United States: Wonder, page 135
3. (LGBT) A fellow gay man, especially a friend as opposed to a sexual partner.
   Tim: James, huh? My lover Carlos's best girlfriend is named James. James: Yes, I know. I am your lover Carlos's best girlfriend James. 1994, Eric Orner, The Seven Deadly Sins of Love (reprinted in The Completely Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green (2015), p. 53)
4. A term of address for a female friend or among gay men.
   Hanque: Girlfriend — how'r we doing? Doug: Hi Hanque, I'd like a capuccino and some lobster bisque. Caption: (Friendliness with the waitstaff is a good sign) 1994, Eric Orner, The Seven Deadly Sins of Love (reprinted in The Completely Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green (2015), p. 32)