adj · 6 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.
/ˈkæt͡ʃi/
/ˈkɛt͡ʃi/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Eric wrote a catchy tune to play on his acoustic guitar while Alyssa plays the drums.
This hook is so catchy that I can't stop listening to it!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Tending to catch or ensnare; entangling.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated, figuratively
Examples
a catchy question
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: tricky
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Consisting of, or occurring in, disconnected parts or snatches; changeable.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated
Examples
a catchy wind
Encyc. of Sport It [the fox's scent] is [...] flighty or catchy, if variable.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Contagious; catching.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
likely to attract attention
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a catchy title for a movie
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: attention-getting
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective satellite
Meaning 6
having concealed difficulty
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a catchy question
a tricky recipe to follow
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: tricky
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Latin captus Proto-Indo-European *-yetider. Latin -io Vulgar Latin *captiāre Old French chacierbor. Anglo-Norman cachierbor. Middle English cacchen English catch Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English catchy From catch + -y.
Across languages
Translations
35 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
enganxós
— instantly appealing and memorable
Chinese Mandarin:
抓耳
(zhuāěr)
— instantly appealing and memorable
Czech:
chytlavý
— instantly appealing and memorable
Danish:
fængende
— instantly appealing and memorable
Danish:
iøjnefaldende
— instantly appealing and memorable
Danish:
iørefaldende
— instantly appealing and memorable
Dutch:
aanstekelijk
— instantly appealing and memorable
Dutch:
pakkend
— instantly appealing and memorable
Finnish:
tarttuva
— instantly appealing and memorable
Finnish:
iskevä
— instantly appealing and memorable
French:
entraînant
— instantly appealing and memorable
German:
einprägsam
— instantly appealing and memorable
German:
griffig
— instantly appealing and memorable
German:
packend
— instantly appealing and memorable
German:
eingängig
— instantly appealing and memorable
Greek:
πιασάρικος
(piasárikos)
— instantly appealing and memorable
Hungarian:
fülbemászó
— instantly appealing and memorable
Italian:
accattivante
— instantly appealing and memorable
Italian:
orecchiabile
— instantly appealing and memorable
Japanese:
キャッチーな
(kyatchi na)
— instantly appealing and memorable
Japanese:
覚えやすい
(oboe-yasui)
— instantly appealing and memorable
Japanese:
耳に残る
(mimi ni nokoru)
— instantly appealing and memorable
Norwegian Bokmål:
fengende
— instantly appealing and memorable
Norwegian Nynorsk:
fengjande
— instantly appealing and memorable
Polish:
chwytliwy
— instantly appealing and memorable
Portuguese:
memorável
— instantly appealing and memorable
Portuguese:
contagiante
— instantly appealing and memorable
Portuguese:
cativante
— instantly appealing and memorable
Russian:
привя́зчивый
(privjázčivyj)
— instantly appealing and memorable
Russian:
запомина́ющийся
(zapominájuščijsja)
— instantly appealing and memorable
Spanish:
pegadizo
— instantly appealing and memorable
Spanish:
pegajoso
— instantly appealing and memorable
Swedish:
medryckande
— instantly appealing and memorable
Swedish:
trallvänlig
— instantly appealing and memorable
Swedish:
svängig
— instantly appealing and memorable
