Catch-22

American  

[kach-twen-tee-too] / ˈkætʃˌtwɛn tiˈtu /

Or catch-22

noun

plural

Catch-22's, Catch-22s

1. a frustrating situation in which one is trapped by contradictory regulations or conditions.

2. any illogical or paradoxical problem or situation; dilemma.

3. a condition, regulation, etc., preventing the resolution of a problem or situation; catch.

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catch-22 British  

noun

1. a situation in which a person is frustrated by a paradoxical rule or set of circumstances that preclude any attempt to escape from them

2. a situation in which any move that a person can make will lead to trouble

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Catch-22 Cultural  

1. (1961) A war novel by the American author Joseph Heller. “Catch-22” is a provision in army regulations; it stipulates that a soldier's request to be relieved from active duty can be accepted only if he is mentally unfit to fight. Any soldier, however, who has the sense to ask to be spared the horrors of war is obviously mentally sound, and therefore must stay to fight.

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Catch-22 Idioms  

1. A no-win dilemma or paradox, similar to damned if I do, damned if I don't. For example, You can't get a job without experience, but you can't get experience unless you have a job—it's Catch-22. The term gained currency as the title of a 1961 war novel by Joseph Heller, who referred to an Air Force rule whereby a pilot continuing to fly combat missions without asking for relief is regarded as insane, but is considered sane enough to continue flying if he does make such a request.

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Usage

What does Catch-22 mean? Coming from the novel of the same name, a Catch-22 is a situation where one is trapped by two contradictory conditions. It's more generally used to refer to a paradox or dilemma. Example: to get a certain job, you need work experience. But to get that work experience, you need to have had a job. It’s a Catch-22.

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Figuratively, a “catch-22” is any absurd arrangement that puts a person in a double bind: for example, a person can't get a job without experience, but can't get experience without a job.

Etymology

Origin of Catch-22

From a military regulation in a novel of the same name (1961) by U.S. novelist Joseph Heller (1923–99)

Example Sentences

This Catch-22 is acutely felt by U.S. partners and allies in the Persian Gulf.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

“The cross currents around next week’s earnings set up a Catch-22 for the AI complex,” he said in a recent earnings preview.

From Barron's • Nov. 16, 2025

"Given that there are fixed capital budgets in all government departments, there is very little room for them to manoeuvre as well, so you're in a kind of Catch-22 situation."

From BBC • Oct. 12, 2024

Catch-22 doesn’t begin to explain how these policies are meant to act together to “make a real commitment to family well-being,” in Reynolds’ words.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 2, 2024

And she gave me Catch-22 and Cat’s Cradle.

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements