catty-corner

1 of 2
cat·​ty-cor·​ner ˈki-tē-ˌkȯr-nər How to pronounce catty-corner (audio) ˈka-tē- How to pronounce catty-corner (audio)
ˈka-tə-
variants or catty-cornered

less common spelling of kitty-corner

: in a diagonal or oblique position
the house stood kitty-corner across the square

kitty-corner

2 of 2

adverb or adjective

kit·​ty-cor·​ner ˈki-tē-ˌkȯr-nər How to pronounce kitty-corner (audio) ˈka-tē- How to pronounce kitty-corner (audio)
ˈka-tə-
variants or less commonly catty-corner
ˈki-tē-ˌkȯr-nər How to pronounce kitty-corner (audio) ˈka-tē- How to pronounce kitty-corner (audio)
ˈka-tə-
 or catercorner
ˈki-tē-ˌkȯr-nər How to pronounce kitty-corner (audio) ˈka-tē- How to pronounce kitty-corner (audio)
ˈka-tə-
 or kitty-cornered
ˈki-tē-ˌkȯr-nərd How to pronounce kitty-corner (audio) ˈka-tē- How to pronounce kitty-corner (audio)
ˈka-tə-
 or catty-cornered
ˈki-tē-ˌkȯr-nərd How to pronounce kitty-corner (audio) ˈka-tē- How to pronounce kitty-corner (audio)
ˈka-tə-
 or catercornered
ˈki-tē-ˌkȯr-nərd How to pronounce kitty-corner (audio) ˈka-tē- How to pronounce kitty-corner (audio)
ˈka-tə-
: in a diagonal or oblique position
the house stood kitty-corner across the square

Synonyms of catty-corner

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Adverb or adjective

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Examples of catty-corner in a Sentence

Adverb or adjective walked kitty-corner across the quadrangle to the registration booth
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb or adjective
Set the scene As befitting the city’s showpiece, the Empress occupies what’s arguably the best spot in Victoria, overlooking the Inner Harbor and kitty-corner to the British Columbia Parliament Buildings. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 That’s a concern to Ehren Joseph, who lives kitty-corner to the property along Harrison. — Thomas Gounley, Denver Post, 6 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, in the shopping center kitty-corner, a hundred or more loyalists stood in line to support Stan’s Donuts, a South Bay institution. — Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 31 July 2026 Before that, going back to 1953, the Chicago Greyhound terminal was located at Clark and Randolph streets in the Loo p— at the current site of the Grant Thornton Tower, across the street from the Daley Center and the Thompson Center, and kitty-corner from the City Hall-County Building complex. — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for catty-corner

Word History

Etymology

Adverb or adjective

kitty-corner alteration of cater-corner, from obsolete cater four + corner

First Known Use

Adverb Or Adjective

1825, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of catty-corner was in 1825

Rhymes for catty-corner

See All Rhymes for catty-corner

Browse Nearby Words

catty
catty-corner
cattywampus
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Catty-corner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catty-corner. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

catty-corner

variants or catty-cornered

variant of kitty-corner

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