In order to fully understand what a "hollaback girl" is, one must first understand what it means to "hollaback." When one hollas back, one responds to a verbal insult with their own reciprocal verbal insult. This in itself is not necessarily a negative thing, however to become a "hollaback girl" is something to be avoided. A "hollaback girl" is a girl who responds only with these verbal insults, without ever actually taking it to the next level and kicking some ass. In other words, a hollaback girl is all talk and no walk.
This phrase was originally popularized by Gwen Stefani via her song "Hollaback Girl" from her debut solo album L.A.M.B. The song was a response to a comment Courtney Love made about Gwen in an interview with 17 Magazine. Love reportedly stated "Being famous is just like being in high school. But, I'm not interested in being the cheerleader. I'm not interested in being Gwen Stefani. She's the cheerleader, and I'm out in the smoker shed."

Gwen, upon hearing this, did not hollaback like a petty cheerleader. She instead came back with Hollaback Girl. In explanation of the song she said "Someone one time called me a cheerleader, negatively, and I've never been a cheerleader. So I was like 'Ok, fuck you, you want me to be a cheerleader? Well I'll be one then. And I'll rule the whole world. Just you watch me.'" This is clearly in reference to Love's comment. And based on "Hollaback Girl"'s success, I'd say Gwen held true to her word and took over the world.
1.These bitches were talking smack, so I had to holla back.

2. All that girl ever does is talk smack. She never takes any actual action. She's SUCH a hollaback girl.
by Violet Vanity October 18, 2009
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The titular term Hollaback Girl of Gwen Stefani's former number one single features original urbanization of cheerleading vernacular.

In cheer, the head cheerleader performs the act of "hollering" while leading the cheers; the lesser members of the squad "holler back," repeating the cheer.

Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" urbanizes the "holler/holler back" dichotomy of the cheerleading squad in a snub to Courtney Love. Love derisively referred to Stefani as a "cheerleader," and Stefani's response was to write the song, which is essentially a repetitious cheer as a sort of "fuck you" to Love.

Her urbanization is misplaced, however, because "to holla" connotes entirely different meanings from what Stefani intends, including speech acts of solidarity between in-group members, general speech acts intended to generate dialogue with a potential sex-partner/mate, and others.
"Gwen is apparently the captain of the cheerleader squad; she is the girl who 'hollas' the chants, not one of the girls who simply 'hollas' them back." (see the OC Register)

"Are you the cheer captain?"
"No, I'm a 'Hollaback Girl.'"
by King Mongo November 21, 2005
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Word Gwen made up to drive us B-A-N-A-N-A-S trying to figure out what it means.
gwen: Hey i have an idea... i will make up a word that nobody really knows the meaning of and put it in a song and try to make people figure out what it means. it will drive them bananas. oh! I should put that in the song too!!
by Bubbles_r_shiney May 2, 2005
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A Chickenhead who will Holla back to anyone who holla's at her.
LaFonda is a Hollaback girl, cause she's easy like Sunday Morning....
by Kip Dynamite April 13, 2005
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When Tom sees Juile at a club, He hollas at her because she looks good but then when he sees Becky he forgets all about Juile. At the end of the night Becky won't put out so he 'hollas back' at Juile.
by Elle is Great December 3, 2004
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a girl who doesn't spend her time discussing issues and trying to win over others with logic but rather prefers to throw down and convince skeptics through fisticuffs or a good ass kicking.
ex. Gwen Stafani's song. When another girl said some bad things about her thinking she wouldn't find out, the character in Gwen's song didn't want to discuss the matter, she simply went to the offender and kicked her big mouthed butt.
by Maleficent March 29, 2005
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A Cheerleader who hollars in the background which most people ignore. Since you can't ignore Gwen Stefani, she ain't no 'hollaback girl'.
A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just goin' to happen like that
Because I ain't no hollaback girl
I ain't no hollaback girl
by Alex April 11, 2005
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