cattle

American  

[kat-l] / ˈkæt l /

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. bovine animals, especially domesticated members of the genus Bos.

2. Bible. such animals together with other domesticated quadrupeds, as horses, swine, etc.

3. Disparaging. human beings, especially in a large, unruly crowd.

---

cattle British  

/ ˈkætəl /

noun

1. bovid mammals of the tribe Bovini (bovines), esp those of the genus Bos

2. Also called: domestic cattle.  any domesticated bovine mammals, esp those of the species Bos taurus (domestic ox)

---

Other Word Forms

• cattleless adjective

Etymology

Origin of cattle

1175–1225; Middle English catel < Old North French: (personal) property < Medieval Latin capitāle wealth; capital ¹

Example Sentences

Between daily longhorn cattle drives, rodeos, live music, and plenty of low-key ways to relax, there’s always something going on.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

Born June 20, 1931, in Calumet, Mich., Tolkan was the son of a cattle dealer — Ralph M. Tolkan.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

This discovery represents the first confirmed case of tool use in cattle and expands the range of species known to demonstrate this ability.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

The Greeley plant can slaughter about 6,000 cattle a day, and accounts for roughly 5% of America’s beef-processing capacity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

He’d buy half-starved cattle off patch farmers, feed them out, and sell them on.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

Related Words

• herd
• oxen