often attributive
1
a
: a carnivorous mammal (Felis catus) long domesticated as a pet and for catching rats and mice
b
: any of a family (Felidae) of carnivorous usually solitary and nocturnal mammals (such as the domestic cat, lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cougar, wildcat, lynx, and cheetah)
2
a
: guy
some young … cat asked me to go drinking with him—
Jack Kerouac
Jack Kerouac
b
: a player or devotee of jazz
3
: a strong tackle used to hoist an anchor to the cathead of a ship
6
7
: a malicious woman
especially
: one given to making catty remarks about other women
catted; catting
usually vulgar
: to search for a sexual mate
—often used with around
: to bring (an anchor) up to the cathead
1
catalog
2
catalyst
1
clean-air turbulence
2
computerized axial tomography
Synonyms
Examples of cat in a Sentence
Noun
I have two dogs and a cat.
the family's cat did an exemplary job of keeping the house and yard free of all rodents
Recent Examples on the WebMedea Giordano, WIRED, 24 Nov. 2023
His wife will start decorating their new home, and tend to Amigo, their cat, who survived the fire but whose paws and fur were burned.
—Priscella Vega, Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2023
This dual cat tree and scratching post is what your cat wants this holiday season.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023
The dog, Latke, and cat, Applesauce, end up saving the day.
—Amanda Ogle, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2023
Share [Findings] Men who pose for photos with cats are seen as less datable.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 Nov. 2023
What is the best way to ensure good care for my two cats and my horse?
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2023
The famous lasagna-loving cat is back with Pratt as the man behind the whiskers in this nearly three-minute look (below) at the movie based on Jim Davis’ famous Garfield comic series.
—Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Nov. 2023
And when that happens, cheetahs are generally forced to give up their catches to the larger cats.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Nov. 2023
Joseph Goodman, AL.com, 17 June 2017
Cat Mountain Tr., 1400 block: Theft of property ($100-$750).
—Mitch Mitchell, star-telegram.com, 16 June 2017
Cat prowled beneath the shelf, but had no way to reach my little fish.
—Elisabeth Egan, chicagotribune.com, 10 June 2017
Q. How worried should cat owners be about the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, especially with babies in the house?
—Karen Weintraub, New York Times, 8 June 2017
Go to Cat Tuong in Kastanienallee for wow-factor vegan/vegetarian Vietnamese dishes—
—Alexandra Pereira, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 May 2017
Today, the government is trying hard to eliminate cats from the landscape and is even involved in the invention of new cat poisons and gory things, which are upsetting to cat lovers.
—Martin Mejia, National Geographic, 13 Nov. 2016
See More
Noun
There's enough headroom that most cats should be OK using it, but not every cat loves the privacy.
—Medea Giordano, WIRED, 24 Nov. 2023
His wife will start decorating their new home, and tend to Amigo, their cat, who survived the fire but whose paws and fur were burned.
—Priscella Vega, Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2023
This dual cat tree and scratching post is what your cat wants this holiday season.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023
The dog, Latke, and cat, Applesauce, end up saving the day.
—Amanda Ogle, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2023
Share [Findings] Men who pose for photos with cats are seen as less datable.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 Nov. 2023
What is the best way to ensure good care for my two cats and my horse?
—Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2023
The famous lasagna-loving cat is back with Pratt as the man behind the whiskers in this nearly three-minute look (below) at the movie based on Jim Davis’ famous Garfield comic series.
—Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Nov. 2023
And when that happens, cheetahs are generally forced to give up their catches to the larger cats.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Nov. 2023
Verb
Cat knew how to draw out the best in his son athletically and emotionally.
—Joseph Goodman, AL.com, 17 June 2017
Cat Mountain Tr., 1400 block: Theft of property ($100-$750).
—Mitch Mitchell, star-telegram.com, 16 June 2017
Cat prowled beneath the shelf, but had no way to reach my little fish.
—Elisabeth Egan, chicagotribune.com, 10 June 2017
Q. How worried should cat owners be about the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, especially with babies in the house?
—Karen Weintraub, New York Times, 8 June 2017
Go to Cat Tuong in Kastanienallee for wow-factor vegan/vegetarian Vietnamese dishes—
—Alexandra Pereira, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 May 2017
Today, the government is trying hard to eliminate cats from the landscape and is even involved in the invention of new cat poisons and gory things, which are upsetting to cat lovers.
—Martin Mejia, National Geographic, 13 Nov. 2016
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English catt, probably from Late Latin cattus, catta cat
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1681, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Time Traveler
The first known use of cat was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing cat
Dictionary Entries Near cat
Cite this Entry
“Cat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cat. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.
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Kids Definition
cat
nounˈkat
1
a
: a small domestic meat-eating mammal kept by people as a pet or for catching rats and mice
b
: an animal (as the lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cougar, wildcat, lynx, and cheetah) that belongs to the same family as the domestic cat
2
slang
: man entry 1 sense 1a, fellow
Medical Definition
cat
1 of 2 nounoften attributive
1
: a carnivorous mammal (Felis catus) long domesticated and kept as a pet or for catching rats and mice
2
: any of a family (Felidae) of mammals including the domestic cat, lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cougar, wildcat, lynx, and cheetah
CAT
2 of 2 abbreviation
computed axial tomography; computerized axial tomography
More from Merriam-Webster on cat
Nglish: Translation of cat for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of cat for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cat
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