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

Etymology

Origin of catwalk

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

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

Yachts akin to floating palaces fill the marina, celebrity chefs jet in for residencies at local restaurants and Pampelonne Beach morphs into a sandy catwalk with seasonal beach clubs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

They mostly stood on the elevated stage, but occasionally came down to the catwalk in front of the orchestra.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026

While walking a catwalk he plunged through a pair of broken slats and was left hanging by his armpits.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 2026

Italian fashion brand Fiorucci also chose to stage its autumn/winter collection in London this year, with a presentation instead of traditional catwalk.

From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2026

A small hanging glacier extends out from the lip of the ice cap, leading up and across the north face of the Thumb like a catwalk.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

Three interconnected catwalks stretch into the audience, carving the space into small compartments.

From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026

With the glamorous catwalks, celebrities and excess of finery on display, the possibility of the recent investigations uncovering labour abuses being on anyone's mind appeared slim.

From Barron's ● Feb. 27, 2026

Even as he entered his 10th decade, Armani continued to present new collections on the French and Italian catwalks.

From BBC ● Sep. 4, 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

Some of the shelves were so tall they were only accessible by ladders and catwalks, which ran across the ceiling like theater scaffolding.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan