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catbird

American

[kat-burd] / ˈkætˌbɜrd /

noun

any of several American or Australian birds having catlike cries, especially Dumetella carolinensis gray catbird, of North America.

catbird British

/ ˈkætˌbɜːd /

noun

any of several North American songbirds of the family Mimidae (mockingbirds), esp Dumetella carolinensis, whose call resembles the mewing of a cat
any of several Australian bowerbirds of the genera Ailuroedus and Scenopoeetes, having a catlike call

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of catbird

An Americanism dating back to 1700–10; cat ( def. ) + bird

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.

They are in the catbird seat to monetize AI.

From Barron's • Jan. 9, 2026

These people and institutions are in the catbird seat of economic policy now.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 15, 2025

It sounds as if Musk is really in this catbird seat.

From Slate • Aug. 1, 2025

In the meantime, Catalent and Thermo are "in the catbird seat" leading the market due to their existing capabilities, said Barclays analyst Luke Sergott.

From Reuters • Oct. 9, 2023

Old folks has a sayin’ that if a catbird fusses ’bout nothin’, somethin’ bad is comin’.

From "Sounder" by William H. Armstrong

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023