English Reference
noun

gal

n.
US /ˈɡæɫ/ UK /ɡˈæl/ gal

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    an informal way to say 'girl' or 'young woman'.

    an informal, often colloquial term for a girl or young woman; sometimes associated with specific regional dialects.

    Simple

    She is a smart gal who knows exactly what she wants in life.

    In context

    The local shopkeeper described her as a 'tough gal' who had managed the family farm single-handedly for years.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate American English

    a short way of writing 'gallon', which is a unit for measuring liquids.

    a standard abbreviation for 'gallon', a unit of liquid capacity used primarily in the United States.

    Simple

    The recipe requires 1 gal of water to be mixed with the powder.

    In context

    The fuel tank has a total capacity of 20 gal, which is sufficient for the cross-country journey.

    Usage

    Commonly used in technical manuals, recipes, and on product labels.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated