noun

catfight

Catfight (noun) means a physical fight between cats. Example: “The two strays got into a screeching catfight in the alley.”

noun

A physical fight between cats.

"The two strays got into a screeching catfight in the alley."

An informal, often dismissive term for a fight or heated argument, typically between women.

"The reality show thrives on manufactured catfights between contestants."

"Their disagreement over the budget turned into a full-blown catfight in the meeting."

How to use catfight

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA scrappy fight, either literally between cats or figuratively between people (usually women).

Common mistake

The figurative sense is often seen as a sexist stereotype — many writers now avoid it or use it only deliberately for that tone.

Common pairings

a catfight breaks out a public catfight

Word forms

catfights plural

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The two strays got into a screeching _____ in the alley.

Etymology

From cat + fight — the fight sense borrows the image of scratching and hissing rather than throwing punches.

Frequently asked questions

What does “catfight” mean?

The word “catfight” means a physical fight between cats. In plain terms, a scrappy fight, either literally between cats or figuratively between people (usually women).

How do you use “catfight” in a sentence?

Here is “catfight” used in a sentence: “The two strays got into a screeching catfight in the alley.”

What part of speech is “catfight”?

“Catfight” is a noun.

How many meanings does “catfight” have?

“Catfight” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a physical fight between cats.