name
Common
Kate
kayt
Kate (name) means a short, familiar form of Katherine, also used as a full given name in its own right. Example: “Everyone calls her Kate, though her birth certificate says Katherine.”
name
1
A short, familiar form of Katherine, also used as a full given name in its own right.
"Chili’s has also enlisted several actors from “The Office” to star in the ads, including Melora Hardin (Jan Levinson), Andy Buckley (David Wallace), Brian Baumgartner (Kevin Malone) and Kate Flannery (Meredith Palmer)."
— Jordan Valinsky, Chili’s is opening a retro restaurant in Scranton that celebrates ‘The Office’ (2025)
"Everyone calls her Kate, though her birth certificate says Katherine."
noun
1
A British and Irish name for the brambling, a type of finch.
"Birdwatchers spotted a kate feeding at the edge of the field."
How to use Kate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly a nickname or standalone form of Katherine; occasionally, a regional bird name.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- Kates
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Everyone calls her _____, though her birth certificate says Katherine.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Kate
See all rhymes for Kate →Frequently asked questions
What does “Kate” mean?
The word “Kate” means a short, familiar form of Katherine, also used as a full given name in its own right. In plain terms, most commonly a nickname or standalone form of Katherine; occasionally, a regional bird name.
How do you pronounce “Kate”?
“Kate” is pronounced kayt (/keɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “Kate” in a sentence?
Here is “Kate” used in a sentence: “Everyone calls her Kate, though her birth certificate says Katherine.”
What part of speech is “Kate”?
Depending on how it is used, “Kate” can be a name and a noun.
Is “Kate” a common word?
“Kate” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Kate” have?
“Kate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short, familiar form of Katherine, also used as a full given name in its own right.
What is the difference between Kate and Katherine?
Kate is a short, familiar form of Katherine, but it is also used as a full given name in its own right. This means a person can be named simply Kate on her birth certificate rather than having it as a nickname for Katherine.
Should Kate always be capitalized?
As a personal name, Kate is a proper noun and always takes a capital K. It keeps the capital whether it is used as a short form of Katherine or as a full given name on its own.
Besides being a personal name, what else does Kate refer to?
In British and Irish usage, 'kate' is a name for the brambling, a type of finch. This is a regional common name for the bird rather than a formal scientific term.
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