catty-corner

1 of 2

cat·​ty-cor·​ner ˈki-tē-ˌkȯr-nər  ˈka-tē- 

ˈka-tə-

variants or catty-cornered

less common spelling of kitty-corner

: in a diagonal or oblique position

the house stood kitty-corner across the square

kitty-corner

2 of 2

adverb or adjective

kit·​ty-cor·​ner ˈki-tē-ˌkȯr-nər  ˈka-tē- 

ˈka-tə-

variants or less commonly catty-corner

ˈki-tē-ˌkȯr-nər  ˈka-tē- 

ˈka-tə-

or catercorner

ˈki-tē-ˌkȯr-nər  ˈka-tē- 

ˈka-tə-

or kitty-cornered

ˈki-tē-ˌkȯr-nərd  ˈka-tē- 

ˈka-tə-

or catty-cornered

ˈki-tē-ˌkȯr-nərd  ˈka-tē- 

ˈka-tə-

or catercornered

ˈki-tē-ˌkȯr-nərd  ˈka-tē- 

ˈka-tə-

: in a diagonal or oblique position

the house stood kitty-corner across the square

Synonyms of catty-corner

Adverb or adjective

• diagonally
• across

Examples of catty-corner in a Sentence

Adverb or adjective

walked kitty-corner across the quadrangle to the registration booth

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb or adjective

Meanwhile, in the shopping center kitty-corner, a hundred or more loyalists stood in line to support Stan’s Donuts, a South Bay institution. — Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 31 July 2026

Before that, going back to 1953, the Chicago Greyhound terminal was located at Clark and Randolph streets in the Loo p— at the current site of the Grant Thornton Tower, across the street from the Daley Center and the Thompson Center, and kitty-corner from the City Hall-County Building complex. — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 17 June 2026

The public forum sits kitty-corner from the Northbrook Metra station. — Phil Rockrohr, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026

Just kitty-corner to the Hollywood Roosevelt, whose Tropicana pool and art deco lobby feel haunted – or blessed – by MGM ghosts, the Chinese Theatre is where those same stars once went to see their movies on the big screen. — Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 4 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adverb or adjective

kitty-corner alteration of cater-corner, from obsolete cater four + corner

First Known Use

Adverb Or Adjective

1838, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for catty-corner

• corner
• horner
• korner
• mourner

Kids Definition

catty-corner

variants or catty-cornered

variant of kitty-corner