catchy

American  

[kach-ee] / ˈkætʃ i /

adjective

catchier, catchiest

1. pleasing and easily remembered.

   a catchy tune.

2. likely to attract interest or attention.

   a catchy title for a movie.

3. tricky; deceptive.

   a catchy question.

4. occurring in snatches; fitful.

   a catchy wind.

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catchy British  

/ ˈkætʃɪ /

adjective

1. (of a tune, etc) pleasant and easily remembered or imitated

2. tricky or deceptive

   a catchy question

3. irregular

   a catchy breeze

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Other Word Forms

• catchiness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of catchy

First recorded in 1795–1805; catch + -y ¹

Explanation

Something that's catchy grabs your attention or sticks in your memory. A catchy TV commercial jingle is one that kids can't stop singing. Ad executives are always seeking catchy slogans or ideas, and movie distributors work hard to put out catchy trailers for new films. Successful pop musicians have solved the puzzle of how to write a catchy song. In all of these cases, the catchy item appeals to many people and stays with them. The word dates from the 1830s, possibly from the sense of catch meaning "contract an illness that's passed from person to person."

Example Sentences

She gained traction during Eurovision week with her intense and ultra-choreographed dancing on the catchy "Bangaranga".

From Barron's • May 17, 2026

But layer a catchy tune over all that artifice, and the music is the only thing many people will hear.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026

The government has frequently used the slogan "från skärm till pärm", which sounds catchy in Swedish, and translates to "from screen to binder".

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

And I just thought it’d be fun to wear something that’s a little different, comfortable, loose and a little bit catchy.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

To help attract attention, he called them by a catchy name: geoglyphs.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• haunting
• memorable