kitten

American  

[kit-n] / ˈkɪt n /

noun

kittens plural

1. a young cat.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. (of cats) to give birth; bear.

kitten British  

/ ˈkɪtən /

noun

1. a young cat

2. US equivalent: have a cow.  informal to react with disapproval, anxiety, etc

   she had kittens when she got the bill

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verb

1. (of cats) to give birth to (young)

kitten Idioms  

1. see have a fit (kittens); weak as a kitten.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• kitten-like
  adjective
• kittenlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• kittens
  plural

Etymology

Origin of kitten

1350–1400; Middle English kitoun, apparently blend of kiteling kitling and Middle French chitoun, variant of chaton kitten

Explanation

A kitten is a baby cat. There is nothing more adorable then a bunch of fuzzy little kittens playing together. While there are a few other animals whose young are called kittens, like beavers, rabbits, and rats, the word most commonly describes a baby cat. Kittens are dependent on their mothers for food and protection until they are around six to eight weeks old, when they're still adorable but also able to eat solid food. Kitten comes from the Middle English kitoun, which is rooted in the Old French chitoun, or "little cat."

Example Sentences

On a business trip to Texas last year, her colleagues found a crying kitten in a warehouse after a storm.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 6, 2026

This is not a photo of a kitten saying “Believe in yourself!”

From Slate • Apr. 23, 2026

When Roo was first adopted by 22-year-old Alana and her partner, both from Cardiff, the little kitten was meant to be an indoor cat.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

“In this case, the data showed the kitten would not survive on its own, and intervention was appropriate.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Like Tuna, a kitten in one of the barn cats’ litter was born without eyes, and was having trouble nursing.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Related Words

• kitty