Catch-22
noun
a frustrating situation in which one is trapped by contradictory regulations or conditions.
Catch-22's
-
pluralof Catch-22.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Catch-22s
-
pluralof Catch-22.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Catch-22nouna frustrating situation in which one is trapped by contradictory regulations or conditions.
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.
See Examples For:
Catch-22’s unfilmable reputation came about in part because someone did try to film it once, in the form of Mike Nicholls’ 1970 feature, and the results were patchy at best.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 20, 2019
After successful careers in advertising and on Wall Street, he does consulting work for Catch-22's amoral entrepreneur, Milo Minderbinder.
From Time Magazine Archive
After Catch-22's painful revel in World War II, and M-A-S-H's super-sanguine romp in Korea, it was inevitable that someone should take up Viet Nam.
From Time Magazine Archive
Catch-22's insights penetrate the elliptical dialogue to show that wars are too often a children's crusade, fought by boys not old enough to vote or, sometimes, to think.
From Time Magazine Archive
Still, many Afghan refugees, like those from other countries, are trapped in a series of Catch-22s.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 27, 2022
“Publicists need to acknowledge that freelancers, we exist,” she said, and that they often are in Catch-22s where they can’t get event invites without assignments from editors but also can’t get an assignment without access.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2018
It chronicles a “Dreamer’s” lifelong efforts to navigate the absurdities and Catch-22s of our broken immigration system.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2017
It all comes down to the many different Catch-22s of development.
From BBC ● Dec. 15, 2012
