catalog

1 of 2

noun

cat·​a·​log ˈka-tə-ˌlȯg 

-ˌläg

variants or catalogue

1

: list, register

a catalog of the band's songs

2

a

: a complete enumeration of items arranged systematically with descriptive details

a catalog of the company's products

b

: a pamphlet or book that contains such a list

a mail-order catalog

a university catalog

c

: material in such a list

catalog

2 of 2

verb

variants or catalogue

cataloged or catalogued; cataloging or cataloguing

transitive verb

1

: to make a catalog of

catalog a collection of books

2

a

: to enter in a catalog

b

: to classify (something, such as books or information) descriptively

Scientific monographs are cataloged into a database that will be available to researchers.

intransitive verb

1

: to make or work on a catalog

2

: to become listed in a catalog at a specified price

this stamp catalogs at $2

cataloger noun

or cataloguer

Synonyms of catalog

Noun

• list
• listing

Verb

• list
• record
• enter
• index

Examples of catalog in a Sentence

Noun

The band played many songs from their catalog of hits.

a catalog of music album titles

Verb

They use the computer to catalog books.

The chart catalogs the results of each test.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Each room is like a catalog highlighting different designers or artists that Lemonides is connected to, including Christian Johnson, Nunzio de Martino, and Dan Pelonis. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Mar. 2026

Concord, under the banner of Craft Latino, is the home of the Fania brand and its music catalog, which spans a combined 25,000 recordings and copyrights. —Brent Lang, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026

Verb

At the current pace of about 25 species per year, amphipods in the eastern CCZ could be nearly fully cataloged within the next decade. —Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026

Another species, Eperopeus vermiculatus, was named in honor of the World Register of Marine Species — a quiet nod to the infrastructure that makes cataloging deep-sea biodiversity possible in the first place. —Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cathaloge, cateloge, from Middle French catalogue, from Late Latin catalogus, from Greek katalogos, from katalegein to list, enumerate, from kata- + legein to gather, speak — more at legend

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing catalog

• card catalog
• mail-order catalog

Kids Definition

catalog

1 of 2 noun

cat·​a·​log

variants or catalogue

ˈkat-ᵊl-ˌȯg 

-ˌäg

1

: a list of names, titles, or articles arranged according to a system

2

: a book or file containing a catalog

catalog

2 of 2 verb

variants or catalogue

cataloged or catalogued; cataloging or cataloguing

1

: to make a catalog of

2

: to enter in a catalog

catalog books

cataloger noun

or cataloguer

-ˈȯ-gər, 

-ˈä-gər