catty

1 of 2

noun

cat·​ty ˈka-tē 

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

ˈka-tə-lē 

adverb

cattiness

ˈka-tē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

Adjective

• bad [slang]
• bitchy
• cruel
• despiteful
• hateful
• malevolent
• malicious
• malign
• malignant
• mean
• nasty
• spiteful
• vicious
• virulent

Examples of catty in a Sentence

Adjective

a catty remark that served only to hurt their feelings

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Later, some vague barbs of catty competitiveness come out when the trio trade the stats and findings from their respective tests. —Dan Heching, CNN, 24 Feb. 2025

Set in 1930s London, the fictional drama follows the prickly bond between Jimmy and theater actress Nina Land (Gemma Arterton), a constant target of his catty takedowns. —Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2024

Adjective

With Day’s co-star Glenn Close having a catty blast in a leopard-print pushup bra, the film starts goofy and stays that way. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2025

Dratch was the last in a group of five SNL alums to debut her Real Housewives tagline parody, spoofing the franchise's tradition of the housewives introducing themselves with a catty one-liner. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2025

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

Phrases Containing catty

• catty-corner
• catty-cornered

Rhymes for catty

• batty
• chatty
• fatty
• natty
• pattie
• patty
• ratty
• tatty

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