# puss

/ˈpəs/ (US) · /pˈʊs/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/puss
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a friendly or informal name for a cat. You might use it when calling a pet or talking to a friend about their cat.

For teachers: an informal or affectionate term for a cat. Often used as a vocative when calling the animal or as a hypocorism in domestic contexts.

## Examples

- Come here, puss, it is time for dinner.
- The old cat, a ginger puss with tattered ears, spent most of its afternoons sleeping on the sunny porch.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a direct address (vocative) or as part of the compound 'pussycat'.

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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.