adj
wildcat
WYLD-kat
Wildcat (adj) means describing an action, especially a strike, taken by workers without official union approval. Example: “The drivers staged a wildcat strike over the new schedules.”
adj
1
Describing an action, especially a strike, taken by workers without official union approval.
"The drivers staged a wildcat strike over the new schedules."
verb
1
To drill for oil or gas in an area that hasn't been proven to have any.
"His pitch was that fracking had transformed the production of gas from a hit-or-miss proposition to one that operated with an on and off switch. It was manufacturing, not wildcatting."
— Bethany McLean, How America's ‘most reckless’ billionaire created the fracking boom (2018)
"You'd have to be very rich or very desperate to go wildcatting that far east."
"The company spent millions wildcatting in the desert with no result."
How to use wildcat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes unauthorized, risky, or unofficial action — from labor strikes to speculative oil drilling.
Common pairings
wildcat strike
wildcat drilling
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like wildcat.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- wildcats
- Past tense
- wildcatted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The drivers staged a _____ strike over the new schedules.
Etymology
From "wild" + "cat"; the business sense traces back to risky, unregulated "wildcat banks" in 1830s Michigan, named for operating recklessly like a wild animal.
Synonyms
View more →
unauthorized
unauthorised
Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “wildcat” mean?
The word “wildcat” means describing an action, especially a strike, taken by workers without official union approval. In plain terms, describes unauthorized, risky, or unofficial action — from labor strikes to speculative oil drilling.
How do you pronounce “wildcat”?
“Wildcat” is pronounced WYLD-kat (/ˈwaɪ.əldˌkæt/ in IPA).
How do you use “wildcat” in a sentence?
Here is “wildcat” used in a sentence: “The drivers staged a wildcat strike over the new schedules.”
What part of speech is “wildcat”?
Depending on how it is used, “wildcat” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “wildcat” come from?
The word “wildcat” dates back to around 1830. From "wild" + "cat"; the business sense traces back to risky, unregulated "wildcat banks" in 1830s Michigan, named for operating recklessly like a wild animal.
How many meanings does “wildcat” have?
“Wildcat” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: describing an action, especially a strike, taken by workers without official union approval.
