What does scat mean?
Scat is a versatile word best known in two quite different contexts. In jazz, it refers to vocal improvisation in which a singer uses rhythmically flexible, often unintelligible syllables rather than a conventional lyric. Performances described as scat may be solo or part of a larger piece, and the style is associated with the development of jazz vocal technique. Scat can also mean excrement in an informal or euphemistic sense. In wildlife biology and tracking, scat more specifically means animal droppings, which can help experts identify an animal’s presence, diet, or movement. As a verb, scat can describe either jazz-style singing or, in informal and dialectal usage, fleeing quickly. Its range—from sophisticated musical performance to a practical field observation—makes it especially memorable.
Jazz-style vocal improvisation using improvised, often meaningless syllables.
"The audience applauded as she launched into an energetic scat."
Most often appears in the phrases “scat singing” and “scat solo.”
Excrement, used euphemistically or informally; also, animal or bird droppings, especially in wildlife contexts.
"The guide pointed out fresh scat on the forest path."
The general sense is informal or euphemistic; the wildlife sense is technical and usually refers to droppings used to identify animals.
To sing using jazz-style vocal improvisation.
"She scatted through the final chorus with a rapid improvised passage."
This sense is strongly associated with jazz performance.
To flee or disappear quickly.
"The children scatted as soon as the game began."
This sense is informal, dialectal, and much less common than the musical verb.
The plural is uncommon because the excrement sense is normally treated as a mass noun; it is more likely to appear when referring to separate deposits or recorded samples.
"The researchers photographed several scats along the trail."
From jazz improvisation to wildlife tracking, scat has travelled from the stage to the forest floor.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does scat come from?
The jazz meaning entered English during the early twentieth century, alongside the development of improvised jazz singing; its precise origin is debated, although Louis Armstrong helped popularize the technique. The excrement and animal-droppings senses are associated with a different word history, connected with the Greek root skatos, “dung,” which also appears in scatology and scatological. These distinct histories explain why the same modern English word can refer both to musical performance and to waste material.
Related word forms
How scat is actually used
The jazz sense is usually associated with improvisation and is often used as “scat singing.” The excrement sense is informal or euphemistic, while the wildlife sense is technical and normally refers to droppings. The fleeing sense is strongly informal and may sound regional or slangy.