diff --git a/cpp/src/arrow/util/string_util.h b/cpp/src/arrow/util/string_util.h
index 3f7803dc92d8..da9664c4d400 100644
--- a/cpp/src/arrow/util/string_util.h
+++ b/cpp/src/arrow/util/string_util.h
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
+#include <iosfwd>
 #include <memory>
 #include <ostream>
 #include <string>