feline
Relating to or affecting cats or other members of the cat family; catlike. As a noun, a member of the cat family.
Feline carries a more elegant, scientific, or mysterious connotation than the simple word 'cat'. It is often used to describe graceful, stealthy movements in humans.
Word relationships
- catlike: Catlike is more informal and usually describes human movements or features, whereas feline is more scientific and can be a noun.
- leonine: Leonine specifically refers to lion-like characteristics, whereas feline covers the entire cat family.
- canine: Canine refers specifically to dogs or the dog family, which is the traditional biological contrast to felines.
Commonly confused with
- canine: Feline refers to cats, while canine refers to dogs.
Word family
- felinity (noun): The quality of being feline; catlike neatness or grace.
- felines (noun): Plural form of feline, referring to multiple members of the cat family.
Collocations
- feline grace
- feline agility
- feline companion
- feline leukemia
Example sentences
- "The feline species is, of all others, the most beautifully and perfectly constructed for a life of prey." A classic 19th-century veterinary text describing the physical perfection of cats.
- "She moved with a quiet, feline grace that made her almost completely silent as she entered the room." Describing a person's graceful and silent movements.
Memory hook
Think of a feline walking along a 'fine line' with perfect balance and grace. Feline = Fine-line walker.
When not to use
Do not use feline when referring to dogs, birds, or other non-cat animals, or when a very casual, domestic tone is preferred (e.g., 'I need to feed my feline' sounds overly formal compared to 'I need to feed my cat').
Fun facts
- The scientific family name for all cats, from house cats to tigers, is Felidae.
- Ancient Egyptians worshipped a feline goddess named Bastet, who represented home, fertility, and protection.
Related words
Also appears in
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