ailurophile

[ ahy-loor-uh-fahyl, ey-loor- ]

noun

1. a person who likes cats; cat fancier.

ailurophile

/ aɪˌlʊərəˈfɪlɪə; aɪˈlʊərəˌfaɪl /

noun

1. a person who likes cats

Derived Forms

• ailurophilia, noun

Other Words From

• ai·lu·ro·phil·ic [ahy-l, oo, r-, uh, -, fil, -ik, ey-l, oo, r-], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ailurophile¹

1925–30; < Greek aílouro ( s ) cat + -phile

Word History and Origins

Origin of ailurophile¹

C20: facetious coinage from Greek ailuros cat + -phile

Example Sentences

In 1996, a male colleague watching him horah at my Soho wedding asked, "How does a guy dressed like that get any dates?" — jealous that Stan remained catnip for women, and an ailurophile too.

From Salon

This is hardly news to ailurophiles, who already know that inside every fluffball lurks a psychopath ready to lash out at an ill-timed belly tickle.

From The Guardian

"We threw the cat in," says Joel, who is not, it seems, much of an ailurophile, because the film "didn't really have a plot".

From The Guardian