catchy
Americanadjective
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pleasing and easily remembered.
a catchy tune.
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likely to attract interest or attention.
a catchy title for a movie.
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tricky; deceptive.
a catchy question.
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occurring in snatches; fitful.
a catchy wind.
adjective
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(of a tune, etc) pleasant and easily remembered or imitated
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tricky or deceptive
a catchy question
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irregular
a catchy breeze
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of catchy
Explanation
Something that's catchy grabs your attention or sticks in your memory. A catchy TV commercial jingle is one that kids can't stop singing. Ad executives are always seeking catchy slogans or ideas, and movie distributors work hard to put out catchy trailers for new films. Successful pop musicians have solved the puzzle of how to write a catchy song. In all of these cases, the catchy item appeals to many people and stays with them. The word dates from the 1830s, possibly from the sense of catch meaning "contract an illness that's passed from person to person."
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.
“The colorblind Constitution” is a catchy, memorable way to think about equal protection.
From Slate • Jun. 22, 2026
Although it was their first listen, the song’s catchy chorus already had fans dancing along.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 15, 2026
With catchy hooks and punchy lyrics, the World Cup song has been a popular pre-match aperitif for decades.
From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026
“Come Inside” and “Lost Horizon” are catchy rockers with slightly trippy philosophical underpinnings.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026
“I’m not. The hook’s catchy, the verses are good. You ain’t put that online yet?”
From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas
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.
