# Sheila

/ˈʃiɫə/ (US) · /ʃˈiːlɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sheila
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a woman

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Dialect · Informal

a casual word for a woman.

For teachers: A slang term for a woman, characteristic of Australian and New Zealand English.

- He said he was meeting a sheila at the café for lunch.
- The film relied heavily on outdated stereotypes, featuring a protagonist who referred to every woman he met as a sheila.

Usage: Commonly used with the definite or indefinite article.

Teaching tip: This term is often seen as a stereotype of Australian English. While once common, many modern Australians find it dated or slightly disrespectful, so learners should use it with caution.

## Examples

- Sheila is coming to the party tonight.
- My grandmother often calls her female friends Sheila, even though they are not named that.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.