catch-22

Catch-22

C c

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [kach-twen-tee-too]
- /ˈkætʃˌtwɛn tiˈtu/
- /kætʃ/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [kach-twen-tee-too]
- /ˈkætʃˌtwɛn tiˈtu/

Definitions of catch-22 word

singular noun catch-22 If you describe a situation as a Catch-22, you mean it is an impossible situation because you cannot do one thing until you do another thing, but you cannot do the second thing until you do the first thing. 3
noun catch-22 a situation in which a person is frustrated by a paradoxical rule or set of circumstances that preclude any attempt to escape from them 3
noun catch-22 a situation in which any move that a person can make will lead to trouble 3
noun catch-22 a paradox in a law, regulation, or practice that makes one a victim of its provisions no matter what one does 3
noun plural catch-22 a frustrating situation in which one is trapped by contradictory regulations or conditions. 1
noun plural catch-22 any illogical or paradoxical problem or situation; dilemma. 1

See all 8 definitions of catch-22

Information block about the term

Parts of speech for Catch-22

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Catch-22

catch-22 popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 39% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.

According to our data about 54% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

Synonyms for catch-22

noun catch-22

contradiction — If you describe an aspect of a situation as a contradiction, you mean that it is completely different from other aspects, and so makes the situation confused or difficult to understand.
dilemma — a situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives.
paradox — a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.
quagmire — an area of miry or boggy ground whose surface yields under the tread; a bog.
no-win situation — choice between negative outcomes

All 5 Synonyms of catch-22