kitten

American  

[kit-n] / ˈkɪt n /

noun

1. a young cat.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. (of cats) to give birth; bear.

kitten British  

/ ˈkɪtən /

noun

1. a young cat

2. US equivalent: have a cow.  informal to react with disapproval, anxiety, etc

   she had kittens when she got the bill

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verb

1. (of cats) to give birth to (young)

kitten Idioms  

1. see have a fit (kittens); weak as a kitten.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• kittenlike
  adjective
• kitten-like
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of kitten

1350–1400; Middle English kitoun, apparently blend of kiteling kitling and Middle French chitoun, variant of chaton kitten

Explanation

A kitten is a baby cat. There is nothing more adorable then a bunch of fuzzy little kittens playing together. While there are a few other animals whose young are called kittens, like beavers, rabbits, and rats, the word most commonly describes a baby cat. Kittens are dependent on their mothers for food and protection until they are around six to eight weeks old, when they're still adorable but also able to eat solid food. Kitten comes from the Middle English kitoun, which is rooted in the Old French chitoun, or "little cat."

Example Sentences

This is not a photo of a kitten saying “Believe in yourself!”

From Slate • Apr. 23, 2026

Accessories include leather bags inspired by the sport duffel, and minimalist footwear — ranging from flats to slippers to kitten heels — for elegance at every occasion.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

According to Flores and Velasquez, one of the deputies took a liking to a family kitten and offered to take it home with him.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

When we arrived back in Serbia with no further travel plans for the first time in a decade, I found an abandoned kitten under a pile of firewood in our shed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

How does a ten-foot-tall silver dude with a very loud kitten disappear?

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• kitty