catty

1 of 2

noun

cat·​ty ˈka-tē How to pronounce catty (audio)
plural catties
: any of various units of weight of China and southeast Asia varying around 1¹/₃ pounds (about 600 grams)
also : a standard Chinese unit equal to 1.1023 pounds (500 grams)

catty

2 of 2

adjective

cattier; cattiest
1
: resembling a cat
especially : slyly spiteful : malicious
made several catty comments
2
: of or relating to a cat
cattily adverb
cattiness noun

Examples of catty in a Sentence

Adjective a catty remark that served only to hurt their feelings
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
A lot of it comes through in the vocalizations, just a willingness to push vocals over the top, to be a little catty, to be dramatic. Pitchfork, 14 Dec. 2023 This glorious book is a sneaky novel in story-collection drag — best read in a corner booth at Du-par’s, behind a Tiny’s patty melt and a slice of bread pudding, catty-corner from the Writers Guild. Boris Kachka, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2023 In Dnipro, the second stop of the evacuation train, 100 miles west of Pokrovsk, through the doors of a former shopping plaza, catty-cornered to the Dnipro passenger-train station, the Mother and Child Center accepted evacuating mothers with children and invalids. Sarah A. Topol, New York Times, 15 Nov. 2022 Nail then moved the bar to its current location on the corner of Bryan Street and Fitzhugh, catty-corner to the venerable Jimmy’s Food Store. Michael Hogue, Dallas News, 24 Mar. 2023 On one corner of West Fourth Street and South Washington, catty-corner from the bookstore, Leslie Jones, 49, of Detroit, was holding forth — and holding a very large bible. Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 11 Mar. 2023 Here are some of our favorite catty reviewer quotes from this year's list: This paper is desperate. Jennifer Welsh, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2010 The raid by the government agencies followed local media reports alleging the meats could be found on sale frozen for about $12 a catty (a local unit equivalent to about 1.3 pounds) – similar to the price of cooked beef. Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 11 Feb. 2023 The neighbors catty-corner to us would have [John] Cornyn signs out front. Dallas News, 28 Feb. 2022
Adjective
In 10 years, people might not remember the catty comments about Anne Hathaway and Melissa Leo. Jenelle Riley, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 And then on Tuesday night, asked a catty question on that topic, Woodson raised his back and clawed back. Gregg Doyel, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Jan. 2024 That man is Craig Venter, whose chatty, sometimes catty and always engaging voice is largely absent from his own book. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Dec. 2023 The first two episodes proved the show is succeeding for a reason, and catty drama had nothing to do with why it's been resonating with viewers. Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 15 Oct. 2023 In the new episode of 'The Kardashians,' Kim tries to work her way into Choupette’s heart Kim Kardashian found herself in a catty situation when planning out her 2023 Met Gala look. Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 26 Oct. 2023 Unfortunately, Black woman friendships can be defined or seen as nonexistent or catty in the media and beyond, so how does this book change that stigma? Dominique Fluker, Essence, 20 July 2023 My Search for Warren Harding finds a catty, cutthroat, embittered, insecure East Coast presidential historian in Los Angeles in search of love letters exchanged between Warren Harding and a (fictional) mistress, Rebekah Kinney, now an old woman living in a Norma Desmond–y mansion in the hills. Brandon Sanchez, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2023 Because women so often are portrayed on television as catty and competitive. Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'catty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Malay kati

First Known Use

Noun

1598, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of catty was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near catty

Cite this Entry

“Catty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catty. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

catty

adjective
cat·​ty
ˈkat-ē
cattier; cattiest
1
: resembling a cat
2
: mean in a sly way
catty remarks
cattily
ˈkat-ə-lē
adverb
cattiness
ˈkat-ē-nəs
noun

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