noun
tomcat
noun
1
A male cat, especially one that has not been neutered.
"The tomcat next door keeps fighting with the neighborhood strays."
2
A man who pursues many casual sexual relationships (informal, somewhat dated).
"He had a reputation as a tomcat in his younger days."
verb
1
To pursue casual sexual encounters (informal).
"He spent his twenties tomcatting around the city."
How to Use Tomcat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA male cat, or, informally, a man known for chasing many casual romantic partners.
When to use it
The "promiscuous man" sense is informal and a bit dated.
Word Forms
tomcatted past tense, tomcats plural, tomcats singular
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The _____ next door keeps fighting with the neighborhood strays.
Etymology
From "Tom" plus "cat," popularized by the 1760 book "The Life and Adventures of a Cat," in which the male cat character was named Tom.