tomcat: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, Neutral in zoology/animal husbandry.
Quick answer
What does “tomcat” mean?
A male cat.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A male cat.
A slang term for a man who is seen as aggressively masculine, promiscuous, or domineering; also the name for a male jaguar or male cat in a technical/zoological context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. The slang usage is understood in both variants but may be slightly more prevalent in American English media and idioms.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both variants for both the literal and figurative meanings.
Frequency
Equally common for the literal meaning. The figurative slang might be encountered marginally more in AmE pop culture.
Grammar
How to Use “tomcat” in a Sentence
[Noun] be a tomcat[Noun] tomcat around (verb, slang)the tomcat [Verb, e.g., prowled, yowled]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tomcat” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's too old to be tomcatting around the pubs every night.
- After his divorce, he spent a year just tomcatting.
American English
- He's still tomcatting around like he's in his twenties.
- I heard he got fired for tomcatting on company time.
adverb
British English
- (Rare/Non-standard)
American English
- (Rare/Non-standard)
adjective
British English
- He had a bit of a tomcat grin.
- The film portrayed a tomcat lifestyle of the 1970s.
American English
- He's got that tomcat swagger.
- She was tired of his tomcat antics.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in zoology, veterinary science, or biology contexts to specify sex of a feline subject.
Everyday
Common when discussing pets, distinguishing a male cat. Slang usage is informal, often humorous or critical.
Technical
Standard term for an unneutered male domestic cat (Felis catus) in veterinary/breeding contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tomcat”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tomcat”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tomcat”
- Using 'tomcat' to refer to a female cat.
- Using the slang term in formal writing.
- Misspelling as 'tom cat' (though sometimes accepted, the solid form 'tomcat' is standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. However, in specialist zoology contexts, it can be used for male individuals of other feline species like jaguars (e.g., 'a male jaguar is called a tomcat').
It can be, depending on context. It often implies he is promiscuous or recklessly masculine. It might be used humorously among friends, but it's generally derogatory and informal.
'Tom' is a common short form for 'tomcat' when referring to the animal. In slang for a man, 'tomcat' is more common than just 'tom'.
Yes, but it's very informal slang. 'To tomcat' or 'to tomcat around' means for a man to pursue casual sexual relationships in a conspicuous way.
A male cat.
Tomcat is usually informal, neutral in zoology/animal husbandry. in register.
Tomcat: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɒmkat/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtɑːmˌkæt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “tomcat around (to behave like a promiscuous man)”
- “fight like tomcats (to argue fiercely)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Tom' as a common male name + 'cat'. Just like a man named Tom, a 'tomcat' is a male cat.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGGRESSIVE/PROMISCUOUS BEHAVIOR IS TOMCAT BEHAVIOR. (A man acting that way is metaphorically likened to a prowling, territorial male cat.)
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'tomcat' be LEAST appropriate?