catnip

noun

cat·​nip ˈkat-ˌnip 

1

: a strong-scented perennial mint (Nepeta cataria) that has whorls of small pale flowers in terminal spikes and contains a substance attractive to cats

2

: something very attractive

Examples of catnip in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The apartment is tucked inside a 1925 neo-Renaissance building designed by Harvey Wiley Corbett, with a prewar grandeur that feels like catnip for a man with a penchant for cigars and dirty vodka martinis. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 17 Sep. 2026

His aggressive leadership style and prognostications are not social catnip. — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

These included yarrow, feverfew, catnip, elderberry, burdock root, licorice root, valerian root, pleurisy root, redroot, and zinc. — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

And two prizes, one bag of treats and one bag of catnip toys. — Rasputin Todd, Cincinnati Enquirer, 27 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

cat entry 1 + obsolete nep catnip, from Middle English, from Old English nepte, from Latin nepeta

First Known Use

1712, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

catnip

noun

cat·​nip -ˌnip 

: a strong-scented herb of the mint family that is especially attractive to cats

Medical Definition

catnip

noun

cat·​nip -ˌnip 

variants also catnep

-ˌnep, -nəp 

1

: a strong-scented mint (Nepeta cataria) that has small pale flowers in terminal spikes and contains a substance attractive to cats

called also cataria, catmint

2

: cataria sense 2