catty

¹

[ kat-ee ]

adjective

, cat·ti·er, cat·ti·est.

1. catlike; feline.
2. slyly malicious; spiteful:

   a catty gossip.

   Synonyms: bitchy, malevolent, nasty, mean

catty

²

[ kat-ee ]

noun

, plural cat·ties.

1. (in China and southeast Asia) a weight equal to about 1½ pounds (680 grams) avoirdupois.

catty

¹

/ ˈkætɪ /

adjective

1. informal.
   spiteful

   a catty remark

2. of or resembling a cat

catty

²

/ ˈkætɪ /

noun

1. a unit of weight, used esp in E Asia, traditionally equal to about one and a half pounds but formalized as 0.5 kg in mainland China, 0.6 kg in Taiwan and Thailand, and about 0.605 kg in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore (Mandarin) Chinese name:jin

Derived Forms

• ˈcattily, adverb
• ˈcattiness, noun

Other Words From

• catti·ly adverb
• catti·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of catty¹

First recorded in 1885–90; cat ( def ) + -y ¹

Origin of catty²

1545–55; < Malay kati

Word History and Origins

Origin of catty¹

C16: from Malay kati

Example Sentences

“You really wrap your head around why people would be so hateful. It’s not catty. It’s cruel.”

From Seattle Times

"You just think about that and really wrap your head around why people would be so hateful - it is not catty, it is cruel," she added.

From BBC

"You just think about that and really wrap your head around why people would be so hateful - it is not catty, it is cruel."

From BBC

It’s Ale’s detour through the catty art world, though — and into the orbit of the film’s alternately frightening and recognizable title character — that transports “Problemista” to a rarely explored realm of devilish mentorship.

From Los Angeles Times

The cat could be seen through a perspex dome in Schiffer's argyle-patterned backpack cat cattier - complete with plenty of air holes.

From BBC

Related Words

• rancorous
• spiteful