feline

adjective

fe·​line ˈfē-ˌlīn How to pronounce feline (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or affecting cats or the cat family
2
: resembling a cat: such as
a
: sleekly graceful
c
feline noun
felinely adverb
felinity noun

Did you know?

Cats have always provoked a strong reaction from humans. The Egyptians worshipped them, leaving thousands of feline mummies and idols as evidence. In the Middle Ages, felines were feared as agents of the devil, and were thought to creep around silently at night doing evil. (Notice that feline is also a noun.) The fascinating family called the Felidae includes about 40 species of superb hunters, including the lions, tigers, jaguars, cheetahs, cougars, bobcats, and lynxes, and almost all of them are smooth, silent, and independent.

Examples of feline in a Sentence

They move with feline agility. the thief was eerily feline as he moved stealthily through the darkened rooms
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.
Non-cat owners can also participate by considering adopting a black cat or donating to a feline charity. Terry Baddoo, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024 Our feline hero, a skinny grey cat with wide saucer eyes and a twitchy suspicion of any and all other species, barely manages to escape a pack of hungry dogs before being caught up in a cataclysmic flood. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Oct. 2024 As the name suggests, those kinds of power naps are reminiscent of the ways our feline friends seem to laze and doze their entire days away. Discover Magazine, 3 Sep. 2024 Beyond parasites, unattended poop may also be contaminated with canine or feline viruses, such as parvovirus, distemper virus and canine coronavirus, that can create life-threatening disease in other dogs and cats, especially in adult animals that are unvaccinated and puppies and kittens. Julia Wuerz, The Conversation, 6 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for feline 

Word History

Etymology

Latin felinus, from felis

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of feline was in 1681

Dictionary Entries Near feline

Cite this Entry

“Feline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feline. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

feline

1 of 2 adjective
fe·​line
ˈfē-ˌlīn
1
a
: belonging to the family of flesh-eating mammals with soft fur that includes the cats, lions, tigers, leopards, pumas, and lynxes
b
: of or resembling a cat : characteristic of cats
2

feline

2 of 2 noun
: a feline animal : cat

Medical Definition

feline

adjective
fe·​line ˈfē-ˌlīn How to pronounce feline (audio)
: of, relating to, or affecting cats or the family Felidae
feline noun

More from Merriam-Webster on feline

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!