catwalk

American  

[kat-wawk] / ˈkætˌwɔk /

noun

• catwalks
  plural

1. a narrow walkway, especially one high above the surrounding area, used to provide access or allow workers to stand or move, as over the stage in a theater, outside the roadway of a bridge, along the top of a railroad car, etc.

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catwalk British  

/ ˈkætˌwɔːk /

noun

1. a narrow ramp extending from the stage into the audience in a theatre, nightclub, etc, esp as used by models in a fashion show

2. a narrow pathway over the stage of a theatre, along a bridge, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• catwalks
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of catwalk

First recorded in 1880–85; cat ( def. ) + walk

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Explanation

A catwalk is a very narrow, high bridge. You might see workers on a catwalk during the construction of a skyscraper, or you might see a model strutting her stuff on a different type of catwalk. Any high, skinny bridge can be described as a catwalk, but it's more likely to refer to an industrial walkway, like one in a factory or other workplace. The kind of catwalk on which a model struts is different — it's lower, not so precarious, and often extends into the audience. The original catwalks, in the 1880s, were on ships and backstage in theaters, and they were named for the careful, delicate way a cat walks.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

catwalk catwalks

Celine Dion kicked off Paris Fashion Week in style on Monday, stepping onto the catwalk beneath the Eiffel Tower and belting out "I'm Alive" to a delighted crowd in a surprise performance.

From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026

Despite some worthy competitors performing their best catwalk struts and Australian accents, the title was awarded to a 17-year-old girl who did not want to be named.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

But he was quick to laugh and joke as he remembered playing Frank, including his nightly entrance at the Roxy, marching down a catwalk in heels and Dracula cape.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

The third floor is home to three bedrooms, all connected by a glass-floored catwalk.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

My plan was to follow this catwalk to a prominent rock prow in the center of the wall and thereby execute an end run around the ugly, avalanche-swept lower half of the face.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

The tie has also recently made a comeback on men's catwalks.

From Barron's ● Jan. 31, 2026

The catwalks of big fashion houses such as Loewe, Dior and Fendi were awash with rainbow brights in yellow, red and green, with some mixing and matching shades for added dramatic effect.

From BBC ● Dec. 27, 2025

For the main theater, to avoid changing the building’s historic roofline, crews excavated below the original slab, lowering the stage and audience levels so catwalks, rigging and lighting grids could fit under the low profile.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2025

Haute couture catwalks couldn’t show unwearable fashion if everything “went.”

From Slate ● Jul. 21, 2025

Lefty could see die train tracks now, the huge silos along the river, the giant spice box of coal, coke, and iron ore, and the catwalks stretching overhead like giant spiders.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

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