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Definition of cathouse

cathouse

/ˈkætˌhaʊs/
cat · house
Plural:cathouses
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cathouse Lexical Profile

cathouse Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American A house or establishment where people may pay to engage in sexual activity with prostitutes; a brothel.

Example

"The historical novel depicted the rough frontier town's saloons, gambling halls, and notorious cathouses."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for cathouse

Word Nuance & Usage

"Cathouse" is an informal, predominantly North American slang term for a brothel; when referring to a shelter or enclosure for pet cats, it is normally written as two separate words ("cat house").

• Rhymes for cathouse

• Nearby Words

cathode
catholic
catholicism
cathouse
cathy
catlike
catmint

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in early 20th-century American slang by combining "cat" (an older slang term for a prostitute dating back to the 15th century) with "house".

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cathouse. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cathouse
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