# cattle

/ˈkætəɫ/ (US) · /kˈætəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cattle
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. farm animals

noun · CEFR B1

cows, bulls, and oxen kept on a farm for meat or milk.

For teachers: domesticated bovine animals, such as cows and bulls, raised as livestock for economic purposes.

- The farmer moved the cattle to a different field where the grass was longer.
- The rancher managed over five hundred head of cattle, rotating them across various pastures to ensure the land remained fertile throughout the season.

Usage: Always plural in construction; it takes a plural verb and cannot be used with a specific number like 'three cattle' (use 'three head of cattle' instead).

### 2. people (insult)

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a rude way to describe a large group of people who are treated like animals or who do not think for themselves.

For teachers: a derogatory metaphor for humans perceived as mindless, submissive, or easily led, often used in political or social critiques.

- The commuters were packed into the train like cattle during the morning rush.
- The dictator viewed the citizens as mere cattle, useful only for their labour and easily manipulated by state-controlled media.

### 3. to break or ruin

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang · British English · Vulgar

to break, ruin, or destroy something.

For teachers: to break or ruin; derived from the Cockney rhyming slang 'cattle truck', which rhymes with a common vulgarity.

- I dropped my phone on the pavement and now it is completely cattled.
- The engine is absolutely cattled after that long journey, and the mechanic says it will cost a fortune to replace.

Usage: Transitive verb; often used in the passive voice to describe something that is non-functional.

### 4. other livestock

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Dialect

an old word for other farm animals like sheep, pigs, or goats.

For teachers: a historical or dialectal use referring to livestock in general, including sheep, swine, or goats.

- In the old stories, the word cattle referred to all the animals on the farm.
- The historical document lists the tenant's small cattle, specifically referring to the flock of goats kept for milk production.

## Examples

- The farmer moves the cattle to a new field.
- The rancher spent the entire morning herding the cattle toward the valley for the winter season.
- Modern agricultural practices have significantly increased the efficiency of raising cattle, though environmental concerns regarding methane emissions continue to spark international debate.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.