: any of a genus (Typha of the family Typhaceae, the cattail family) of tall reedy marsh plants with brown furry fruiting spikes
especially
: a plant (Typha latifolia) with long flat leaves used especially for making mats and chair seats
Examples of cattail in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Outside the city, the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge is hosting a viewing party amid the cattail marshes and grasslands.
—
Melissa Locker, TIME, 6 Apr. 2024
Each element was meant to represent different aspects of the city’s image — acorns for legacy and history, the hawk for vision and stewardship, cattails for peace and prosperity, flowers for beauty and balance, and the fog to highlight the city as part of the larger Bay Area.
—Sierra Lopez, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
In an experiment using a replica of the artifact, a small team of researchers successfully created a rope made from cattail reeds.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024
This spur trail off the adjacent greenway carries you over some grassy wetlands with regenerating hardwoods and a cattail marsh.
—Taylor Piephoff, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
An Eastern phoebe perched on a cattail stem and an incoming swamp sparrow called from the thick grass.
—Taylor Piephoff, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Behind the pale trunks of quaking aspens and bright orange autumn leaves are rows of cattails, and together, the composition looked to the photographer as if it had been painted, per a statement.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024
Fulvous nests can usually be found among tall reeds, cattails, and other brush.
—M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 10 Jan. 2024
With Western aid stalled, Ukrainian troops run low on artillery shells
The archipelago of islands had provided good cover, with tall cattails and wide bushes.
—Serhii Korolchuk, Washington Post, 4 Jan. 2024
Melissa Locker, TIME, 6 Apr. 2024
Each element was meant to represent different aspects of the city’s image — acorns for legacy and history, the hawk for vision and stewardship, cattails for peace and prosperity, flowers for beauty and balance, and the fog to highlight the city as part of the larger Bay Area.
—Sierra Lopez, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
In an experiment using a replica of the artifact, a small team of researchers successfully created a rope made from cattail reeds.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024
This spur trail off the adjacent greenway carries you over some grassy wetlands with regenerating hardwoods and a cattail marsh.
—Taylor Piephoff, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
An Eastern phoebe perched on a cattail stem and an incoming swamp sparrow called from the thick grass.
—Taylor Piephoff, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Behind the pale trunks of quaking aspens and bright orange autumn leaves are rows of cattails, and together, the composition looked to the photographer as if it had been painted, per a statement.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024
Fulvous nests can usually be found among tall reeds, cattails, and other brush.
—M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 10 Jan. 2024
With Western aid stalled, Ukrainian troops run low on artillery shells
The archipelago of islands had provided good cover, with tall cattails and wide bushes.
—Serhii Korolchuk, Washington Post, 4 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cattail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Cattail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cattail. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cattail
noun
cat·tail
ˈkat-ˌtāl 
: a tall marsh plant that bears very tiny flowers and fruit in brown furry spikes at the end of long stalks
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