catalog
Americannoun
-
a list or record, as of items for sale or courses at a university, systematically arranged and often including descriptive material.
a stamp catalog.
-
something that contains such a list or record, as a book, leaflet, or file.
-
a list of the contents of a library or a group of libraries, arranged according to any of various systems.
-
any list or record.
a catalog of complaints.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
-
to produce a catalog.
-
to have a specified price as listed in a catalog.
This model catalogs for $49.95.
-
to offer merchandise in a mail-order catalog.
adjective
Usage
What does catalog mean? A catalog is a list or record of items. It is sometimes spelled catalogue. It commonly refers to a list of things being offered, such as items for sale or courses at a school. The point of such a catalog is typically to arrange the information in an orderly way—often with descriptions—so that the items can be easily found. The word often refers to a printed copy of the list, especially in the context of items available for purchase from a particular company. Catalog can also be used to refer to a collection of works, such as by a particular artist, as in I love every album in her catalog. A card catalog is a file containing information about the books and other materials held in a library. Card catalogs were once commonly physical cabinets of drawers containing cards but now often exist as online catalogs. Sometimes, catalog is used in a very general way as another way of saying list, as in a catalog of complaints. Catalog can also be used as a verb meaning to record items with a list, as in Please catalog all of the new titles. Example: The course catalog lists all of the classes that are available to take.
Related Words
See list 1.
Other Word Forms
- cataloger noun
- catalogic adjective
- catalogical adjective
- catalogist noun
- catalogistic adjective
- cataloguer noun
- cataloguist noun
- miscatalog verb (used with object)
- miscatalogue verb (used with object)
- noncatalog adjective
- noncatalogue adjective
- recatalog verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of catalog
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English cataloge, from Late Latin catalogus, from Greek katálogos “a register” (akin to katalégein “to count up”), equivalent to kata- “down, against, back” + -logos reckoning; cata-
Explanation
A catalog is a book that lists many things: the most common type of catalog is for a store. A catalog is an organized list that appears in book or pamphlet form. The Sears catalog tells you all the things you can buy at Sears, along with pictures of the items and what they cost. But you can also use catalog to mean any kind of listing. In an argument, you might say, "Why don't you just make a catalog of all my faults!" When you're making a catalog of any kind, you're cataloging.
Vocabulary lists containing catalog
ESL Library Vocabulary
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Researching Strategies and Using the Library
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Put It This Way: Synonyms for "Describe"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
To investigate, researchers built a catalog of individual whales using opportunistic sightings and photographs contributed by the public between 2018 and 2023, along with more structured surveys conducted from 2023 to 2025.
From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026
Researchers were able to match 21 of 45 identifiable dead whales to individuals in their catalog.
From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026
They built on the ethos of their arena show, stripping the NIN catalog like “Closer,” “Heresy,” “The Warning” and “Copy of A” for parts, rebuilding them for this strobe-licked club setting.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026
Lahav’s tenure with the group lasted only between 1974 and 1975, yet she contributed several standout moments to Springsteen’s catalog.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026
To take our minds off matters as well as to develop them, Father ordered a catalog from a correspondence school.
From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
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.
