Tomcat Definition & Meaning

American

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms tomcat American [tom-kat] / ˈtɒmˌkæt /

noun

1. a male cat.

2. Slang. a woman-chaser.

verb (used without object)

tomcatted, tomcatting

1. Slang. (of a man) to pursue women in order to make sexual conquests (often followed byaround ).

   He tomcatted around before settling down.

Etymology

Origin of tomcat

1750–60; Tom + cat ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A group of tomcats were there, lurking in the shadows.

From Literature

The curious calico and her orange tomcat friend, Monu, had recently been sterilized and returned to the market.

From Salon

He had traveled out with his wife and mother-in-law from the town of Vasylivka, just across the front line, with a few belongings in plastic bags and their ginger tomcat in a pet basket.

From New York Times

All the same, though there’s no reinvention of the genre here, Louder’s mesmerizing mouse proves more than a match for the assembled tomcats — all exuding machismo — with whom she must deal.

From Washington Post

I stood tableside for a few minutes, in my apron, while he sat, napkin tucked under his chin and Prune vinaigrette still slick on his lips, purring like a drowsy tomcat.

From New York Times

Related Words

• kitten
• kitty

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.