catlike

/ˈkætlaɪk/

//ˈkætlaɪk// adj

"catlike" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“catlike” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as an adjective. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Resembling a cat; feline.

Corpus desk

Index EN-catlike · catlike · English

catlike · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "C" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for catlike
PropertyValue
Headwordcatlike
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈkætlaɪk/
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “catlike” in English

catlikeranks outside the top 100,000 English headwords, in the long tail of specialist, archaic, or seldom-used vocabulary, exactly the territory where a reader stops mid-sentence to double-check spelling.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

catlike is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anadjective, transcribed /ˈkætlaɪk/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for catlike, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From cat + -like. The correct English form is catlike, spelled C-A-T-L-I-K-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Resembling a cat; feline.
  2. 2
    Nimble, quick, graceful.
  3. 3
    Slow, deliberate, quiet and stealthy.

Recorded use

Wiktionary example

These source excerpts show how catlike appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. With cat-like tread, Upon our prey we steal; In silence dread, Our cautious way we feel.

Etymology

From cat + -like.

Synonyms

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "catlike"?
"catlike" is spelled C-A-T-L-I-K-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkætlaɪk/.
What does "catlike" mean?
As an adjective, "catlike" means: Resembling a cat; feline.
How do you pronounce "catlike"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "catlike" is /ˈkætlaɪk/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "catlike"?
From cat + -like. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list