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
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.
Dara was far from a front-runner going into the contest, but her intricate choreography and naggingly catchy chorus helped her eclipse the competition - giving Bulgaria its first ever Eurovison title.
From BBC • May 17, 2026
She gained traction during Eurovision week with her intense and ultra-choreographed dancing on the catchy "Bangaranga".
From Barron's • May 17, 2026
The charity’s infamous tune was catchy enough to convince California resident Bruce Puterbaugh to donate a 2001 Volvo XC.
From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026
But layer a catchy tune over all that artifice, and the music is the only thing many people will hear.
From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026
He presses a key, and I hear a mix of keyboard and drums that’s simple but catchy.
From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan
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.
