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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

The catbird stopped her fussing in the wilted lilac bush.

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