catchy
Americanadjective
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catchier,
comparative
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catchiest
superlative
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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.
See Examples For:
While “Demolition” again tackles thwarted desire and self-loathing, this time it comes in the form of a wildly catchy rock anthem.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
I start with something that’s catchy and easily digestible, and then mix it with sounds that feel uncomfortable.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
Take a bite out of history: In Part 2 of its series on McGruff the Crime Dog, Slate’s Decoder Ring podcast asks the question: Did a trench-coat-wearing dog’s catchy anti-drug anthems actually work?
From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2026
It’s a catchy idea that explains why figures like Peter Parker, Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter have a lasting hold on their fans in ways that other heroes don’t.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
It’s catchy and everyone knows the words, but to me, it’s this reminder that no matter who you are, there will always be someone prettier or smarter or thinner.
From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy
Hormel needed a catchier name to break through.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 14, 2023
A general manager encouraged him to adopt the last name Laboe because it sounded catchier.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2022
“It’d be nice to think of a catchier name,” Potter admits.
From Scientific American ● Jul. 26, 2022
The fund is formally called Engine No. 1 Transform 500 ETF, but it has a catchier ticker symbol: VOTE.
From New York Times ● Oct. 15, 2021
It isn’t better than the Haydn; it is just catchier.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
It’s one of the set’s catchiest songs, marred only by a corny spoken-word bit—hopefully, she’ll leave these talky bridges behind on her next collection.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
A dirty little truth about “feel-good” hits, down to the catchiest ditty, is that they’re rarely a band or an artist’s best work.
From Salon ● Apr. 4, 2026
Beyond being one of the catchiest songs of the summer, “Johnny Dang” establishes That Mexican OT’s Third Coast rap bona fides.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2023
Yes, “ Dancing on My Own,” a 2016 dance remix performed by a British reality show contestant improbably became the catchiest song of last season’s run to the World Series.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 27, 2023
The spirit is that of the scherzo, and the main theme is the catchiest imaginable, the rhythm curious and irresistible, and the entire mood saturnalian.
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