kitten

1 of 2

noun

kit·​ten ˈki-tᵊn How to pronounce kitten (audio)
: a young cat
also : an immature or young individual of various other small mammals

kitten

2 of 2

verb

kittened; kittening
ˈkit-niŋ,
ˈki-tᵊn-iŋ How to pronounce kitten (audio)

intransitive verb

: to give birth to kittens

Examples of kitten in a Sentence

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.
Noun
The big guy in the red suit can probably be found at your local shopping mall. Visit kittens. Elisa Cinelli, Parents, 10 Dec. 2024 We're obsessed with suede this season, and these knee-high kitten boots are the perfect pick to wear all through winter. Jenifer Calle, Glamour, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
Local authorities were able to coax the bobcat kitten out of the tree and bring it some comfort. Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 25 July 2023 We're just kitten around. Lizz Schumer, Good Housekeeping, 10 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for kitten 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English kitoun, from Anglo-French *kiton, chiton, diminutive of cat, chat cat, from Late Latin cattus

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kitten was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near kitten

Cite this Entry

“Kitten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kitten. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

kitten

noun
kit·​ten
ˈkit-ᵊn
: a young cat
also : a young individual of various other small mammals
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!