Standard Lemma guide

catchword

noun · 5 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈkat͡ʃwɜːd/
  • US: /ˈkæt͡ʃwɚd/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: K AE1 CH W ER2 D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A word at the end of a book page that repeats the first word from the following page. (Such words served as aids to the bookbinder (to check rapidly for correct placement of leaves) and were also viewed by some readers as aids to smooth reading.)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

Topics: media, printing, publishing

Examples

  • Near-synonym: custos

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: guideword, custos

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The last word of a speech, serving as a cue for the next speaker.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, theater

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A word or expression repeated until it becomes representative of a party, school, business, or point of view.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: watchword, byword

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a word printed at the top of the page of a dictionary or other reference book to indicate the first or last item on that page

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: guide word, guideword

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: word

5

noun

Meaning 5

a favorite saying of a sect or political group

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: motto, slogan, shibboleth

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: saying, expression, locution

Narrower terms: catchphrase, catch phrase, mantra, war cry, rallying cry, battle cry, cry, watchword

History

Etymology

From catch + word.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: siirtymäsana — word that repeats the first word on the following page
  • Finnish: kustodi — word that repeats the first word on the following page
  • German: Kustos — word that repeats the first word on the following page
  • German: Kustode — word that repeats the first word on the following page
  • Indonesian: kata alihan — word that repeats the first word on the following page
  • Indonesian: penanda kuras — word that repeats the first word on the following page
  • Indonesian: reklaman — word that repeats the first word on the following page
  • Polish: hasło — word that repeats the first word on the following page
  • Polish: slogan — word that repeats the first word on the following page