What does tomcatted mean?
Tomcatted is a chiefly British derogatory adjective for a woman who is portrayed as sexually promiscuous or sexually available to men. It commonly appears in sensationalist newspaper reports, gossip columns, and hostile descriptions of a woman's private life. The word is not merely descriptive: its use reduces a woman to an assumed sexual reputation and reflects a strongly gendered double standard, since comparable behavior in men is often described differently. Tomcatted derives from tomcat, literally a male cat and, by extension, a term for a sexually promiscuous man. The suffix -ed transfers that sexual sense to a woman, presenting her as someone who has been involved with multiple men. Although the expression remains intelligible, it is unsuitable for neutral or respectful discussion. In most contemporary contexts, promiscuous or sexually active is more accurate and less explicitly insulting, depending on the intended tone.
adjectiveOf a woman: sexually promiscuous, or regarded as sexually available to men. The term is derogatory and sexist.
- Of a woman, sexually promiscuous or regarded as sexually available to men.
"The gossip column described her as tomcatted, using a crude label to dismiss her private life."
"The newspaper used the word tomcatted to ridicule a woman for her relationships."
"In the gossip column, she was portrayed as tomcatted rather than as an independent adult."
Tomcatted turns the male-cat metaphor into a sharply gendered insult.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tomcatted come from?
Tomcat originally means a male cat. The word was later extended by analogy to a man regarded as sexually promiscuous. Adding the participial suffix -ed produced the chiefly British term tomcatted, applying the disparaging sexual sense to a woman regarded as promiscuous or available to men.
How tomcatted is actually used
This is informal, derogatory, and strongly sexist. It is especially associated with tabloid and gossip writing, in which women may be branded for having multiple sexual partners while men are judged less severely.
Easily confused with tomcatted
A tomcat is literally a male cat or, figuratively, a sexually promiscuous man; a tomcatted woman is disparaged for alleged promiscuity.