Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

cool cat

American  
[kool kat] / ˈkul ˈkæt /

noun

Slang.
  1. a fashionable or hip person.

    Being the cool cat that I was in high school, I would often stop in at the vegan store for coffee on the way home.

  2. a person who is easygoing, casual, and calm.

    He was the most laid-back cool cat I ever met—he took everything in stride.

  3. an admirable or excellent person.

    An ACLU lawyer, drug reformer, and generally cool cat, she is seriously considering a bid for mayor.


Etymology

Origin of cool cat

First recorded in 1920–25

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.

"I needed to know this was going somewhere if I was going to give up this really cool cat," she said.

From Salon • Feb. 13, 2023

I watched the foursome take the stage, and my eyes immediately locked on this one cool cat singing and dancing his heart out.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2022

Described as the "cool cat" in the group, he was its sax player, flutist, percussionist as well as master of ceremonies at shows.

From BBC • Aug. 8, 2021

En route to Louis Armstrong Park, McCusker, a cool cat in a straw fedora, explained the history of jazz, a musical mutt of blues, ragtime, dirges and marches.

From Washington Post • Jul. 26, 2018

But Father played the cool cat, not admitting what a miserable failure he had been so far at the Christianizing trade.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "cool cat" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com