feline

adjective

fe·​line ˈfē-ˌlīn How to pronounce feline (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or affecting cats or the cat family
2
: resembling a cat: such as
a
: sleekly graceful
c
feline noun
felinely adverb
felinity noun

Did you know?

Cats have always provoked a strong reaction from humans. The Egyptians worshipped them, leaving thousands of feline mummies and idols as evidence. In the Middle Ages, felines were feared as agents of the devil, and were thought to creep around silently at night doing evil. (Notice that feline is also a noun.) The fascinating family called the Felidae includes about 40 species of superb hunters, including the lions, tigers, jaguars, cheetahs, cougars, bobcats, and lynxes, and almost all of them are smooth, silent, and independent.

Examples of feline in a Sentence

They move with feline agility. the thief was eerily feline as he moved stealthily through the darkened rooms
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But not everything meant for feline enrichment has to be ugly or cheaply made. Medea Giordano, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024 Friday marks half a century since Japanese merchandising company Sanrio created the first iteration of Kitty White, or Hello Kitty, a cheerful feline girl (not, as her creator controversially revealed in 2014, a cat) who lives with her family in London’s suburbs. Oscar Holland, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024 Heidi Klum as a cat in 2007 Going as a cat is among the more basic of Halloween costumes, but Klum's version certainly required more effort than donning a pair of feline ears. Madeline Boardman, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2024 Enjoy expert tarot card readings, spooky spirits and snacks, shop local artisans and cuddle with feline friends from Stray Animal Adoptions. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 20 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for feline 

Word History

Etymology

Latin felinus, from felis

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of feline was in 1681

Dictionary Entries Near feline

Cite this Entry

“Feline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feline. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

feline

1 of 2 adjective
fe·​line
ˈfē-ˌlīn
1
a
: belonging to the family of flesh-eating mammals with soft fur that includes the cats, lions, tigers, leopards, pumas, and lynxes
b
: of or resembling a cat : characteristic of cats
2

feline

2 of 2 noun
: a feline animal : cat

Medical Definition

feline

adjective
fe·​line ˈfē-ˌlīn How to pronounce feline (audio)
: of, relating to, or affecting cats or the family Felidae
feline noun

More from Merriam-Webster on feline

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