Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Spiteful or malicious in a petty way: Describes behavior, remarks, or attitudes that are intentionally hurtful, often in a subtle, indirect, or sneering manner, typically stemming from jealousy or resentment.
   • Resembling or characteristic of a cat: Pertaining to the sly, stealthy, or sleek qualities associated with a feline.

2. Noun:

   • A unit of weight: A traditional unit of mass used in East and Southeast Asia, historically equivalent to approximately 500 grams or 1.1 pounds.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective:

  • She made a catty comment about her coworker's new outfit. (This illustrates a remark intended to belittle or hurt.)
  • Their rivalry had turned into a series of catty exchanges on social media. (This shows ongoing malicious behavior.)
  • He gave her a catty smile before turning away. (This describes an expression conveying sly malice.)

• Noun:

  • The merchant sold spices by the catty. (This demonstrates its use as a measure for goods.)
  • One catty is roughly equal to 600 grams in some regional systems. (This provides a comparative measurement.)

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• The adjective catty often implies that the malice is not overtly aggressive but is instead underhanded, gossipy, or backbiting. It is frequently, though not exclusively, applied to describe behavior stereotypically associated with interpersonal conflicts among women.
• The term can describe a tone of voice, a look, or the nature of written criticism.
• "To be catty": To engage in spiteful gossip or make snide remarks.
  • She can be so catty when she's jealous.

Variants and Related Words

• Cattily (adverb): In a spiteful or malicious manner.
  • She remarked cattily on his lack of experience.
• Cattiness (noun): The quality of being catty; petty malice.
  • The cattiness in the office was creating a toxic environment.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Malicious, spiteful, snide, backbiting, bitchy (informal), venomous, mean-spirited.
• Noun: Jin (a Chinese unit), pound (in some historical contexts).

Antonyms

• Adjective: Kind, benevolent, charitable, good-natured, complimentary.

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• "Catty-corner" (or "kitty-corner"): This is a separate, common idiom meaning diagonally opposite. It is not directly related to the adjective "catty" but is a variant of "cater-cornered."
  • The pharmacy is catty-corner from the bank.

Adjective

1. marked by or arising from malice
   • a catty remark

Noun

1. any of various units of weight used in southeastern Asia (especially a Chinese measure equal to 500 grams)