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Definition of catnip

catnip

/ˈkæt.nɪp/
cat · nip
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catnip Lexical Profile

catnip Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A strongly scented perennial herb of the mint family (Nepeta cataria), native to Europe and Asia, known for containing nepetalactone, an essential oil that strongly attracts and induces temporary euphoric behavior in many domestic cats.

Example

"She sprinkled a pinch of dried catnip on the scratching post to encourage the new kitten to use it."

2

Something that is extraordinarily attractive, fascinating, or irresistible to a particular person or group of people.

Example

"The newly released archival footage proved to be absolute catnip for history enthusiasts."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

catlike
catmint
catnap
catnip
catproof
catsear
catseye

Word Origin & Etymology

Late 18th century: formed from 'cat' + 'nip', an alteration of the dialect word 'nep' (meaning 'mint'), which ultimately derives from Latin 'nepeta'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Catnip. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 6, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/catnip
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