catalog

1 of 2

noun

cat·​a·​log ˈka-tə-ˌlȯg How to pronounce catalog (audio)
-ˌläg
variants or catalogue
1
: list, register
a catalog of the band's songs
2
a
: a complete enumeration of items arranged systematically with descriptive details
a catalog of the company's products
b
: a pamphlet or book that contains such a list
a mail-order catalog
a university catalog
c
: material in such a list

catalog

2 of 2

verb

variants or catalogue
cataloged or catalogued; cataloging or cataloguing

transitive verb

1
: to make a catalog of
catalog a collection of books
2
a
: to enter in a catalog
b
: to classify (something, such as books or information) descriptively
Scientific monographs are cataloged into a database that will be available to researchers.

intransitive verb

1
: to make or work on a catalog
2
: to become listed in a catalog at a specified price
this stamp catalogs at $2
cataloger noun
or cataloguer

Examples of catalog in a Sentence

Noun The band played many songs from their catalog of hits. a catalog of music album titles Verb They use the computer to catalog books. The chart catalogs the results of each test.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Kelly Clarkson has sold a stake in her catalog to HarborView equity partners, the company announced on Thursday, the latest high profile deal in the music acquisition world. Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2025 Her catalog also sold over 6,200 digital songs over that period, a 1,426% gain. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 23 July 2025
Verb
Eventually, the full Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) will catalog about 20 billion galaxies of all types, and from all times in the history of the Universe. IEEE Spectrum, 23 June 2025 While the boorish behavior of Twain’s shipmates is cataloged throughout (snapping off pieces of ancient monuments for souvenirs, for instance), his most flamboyant portrayal is a self-portrait. Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for catalog

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cathaloge, cateloge, from Middle French catalogue, from Late Latin catalogus, from Greek katalogos, from katalegein to list, enumerate, from kata- + legein to gather, speak — more at legend

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of catalog was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Catalog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catalog. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

catalog

1 of 2 noun
cat·​a·​log
variants or catalogue
1
: a list of names, titles, or articles arranged according to a system
2
: a book or file containing a catalog

catalog

2 of 2 verb
variants or catalogue
cataloged or catalogued; cataloging or cataloguing
1
: to make a catalog of
2
: to enter in a catalog
catalog books
cataloger noun
or cataloguer
-ˈȯ-gər,
-ˈä-gər

More from Merriam-Webster on catalog

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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