catcher: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal to neutral
Quick answer
What does “catcher” mean?
A person or thing that catches, especially someone who catches the ball in baseball.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or thing that catches, especially someone who catches the ball in baseball.
A device or person responsible for capturing, trapping, or receiving something, from objects to signals or information.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, the baseball-specific meaning is less central due to the sport's lower popularity. The term is more readily applied to general devices or in cricket ('wicket-keeper' is used instead).
Connotations
US: Strong baseball association. UK: More generic or technical.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English due to baseball's cultural prominence.
Grammar
How to Use “catcher” in a Sentence
catcher of [something]catcher for [a team/device]catcher in [a position/game]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in tech for 'data catcher' or lead generation.
Academic
Rare, except in sports science or literary studies (re: Salinger).
Everyday
Common in sports contexts (US) or for describing simple devices.
Technical
Used in electronics (signal catcher), mechanics (dust catcher), or computing.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “catcher”
- Using 'catcher' for a person who catches a cold (incorrect).
- Spelling as 'catcher' with double 't'.
- Using it as a verb ('He catchers the ball').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the equivalent position in cricket is called the 'wicket-keeper'. 'Catcher' is specific to baseball.
No, 'catcher' is only a noun. The verb is 'to catch'.
It is a Native American cultural object, a hoop with a woven web, traditionally believed to filter bad dreams.
Outside of professional sports, it is very rare as a formal job title. It might appear in technical descriptions (e.g., 'data catcher').
A person or thing that catches, especially someone who catches the ball in baseball.
Catcher is usually informal to neutral in register.
Catcher: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkætʃ.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkætʃ.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Catcher in the Rye”
- “be a catcher (figurative: someone who listens)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a baseball CATCHER wearing a mitt, ready to CATCH the ball. The '-er' turns the action (catch) into the person who does it.
Conceptual Metaphor
RECEPTACLE FOR OBJECTS/INFORMATION (A catcher is a container for what is thrown or sent).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST common use of 'catcher'?