Phrase guide

cat burglar

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /kæt ˈbɜːɡlə/
  • US: /ˈkæt ˌbɝɡlɚ/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A particularly stealthy burglar, especially one who gains undetected entry through the use of agility.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The police were baffled by the exploits of a cat burglar who only stole from the upper floors of high-rise apartments.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a burglar who unlawfully breaks into and enters another person's house

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: housebreaker

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: burglar

History

Etymology

From cat + burglar.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 飛賊 /飞贼 — burglar
  • Dutch: geveltoerist — burglar
  • Estonian: murdvaras — burglar
  • Finnish: (ovela) murtovaras — burglar
  • Irish: gadaí dreapadóireachta — burglar
  • Italian: topo d'appartamento — burglar
  • Japanese: 怪盗 (kaitō) — burglar
  • Portuguese: gatuno — burglar
  • Russian: фо́рточник (fórtočnik) — burglar
  • Swedish: fasadklättrare — burglar