A
girl is a young female human, usually a child or an adolescent. When a girl becomes an adult, she is generally referred to as a
woman. However, the term
girl is also used for other meanings, including
young woman, and is sometimes used as a synonym for
daughter or
girlfriend regardless of age. In certain contexts, the usage of the term
girl for an adult woman may be considered derogatory.
Girl may also be a term of endearment used by an adult, usually a woman, to designate adult female friends.
Girl also appears in compounds like
showgirl,
cowgirl, and
schoolgirl.