Meaning & use
ailurophile
Last updated
UK/aɪˈlʊərəfaɪl/
US/aɪˈlʊrəfaɪl/
Meaning
nouncountablerarehumorous
A person who loves cats.
Grammar: Countable: an ailurophile, many ailurophiles.
Patterns
- an ailurophile of something
As an ailurophile, she has five cats.
The cafe is a haven for ailurophiles.
Every ailurophile will love this book of cat photos.
Word forms
| plural | ailurophiles |
|---|
Common combinations
- devoted ailurophile
- He is a devoted ailurophile.
- self-confessed ailurophile
- She is a self-confessed ailurophile.
- ailurophile community
- The ailurophile community loves viral videos.
- proud ailurophile
- I am a proud ailurophile.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cat lover
- Cat lover is the everyday phrase, while ailurophile is learned and playful.
- cat person
- Cat person is casual and may suggest personality, not just love.
- felinophile
- Felinophile is a rarer variant.
Opposites
ailurophobe
Word family
- ailurophilia noun
- love of cats
- ailurophobe noun
- a person who fears cats
- ailurophobia noun
- fear of cats
- bibliophile noun
- a lover of books
Commonly confused: ailurophile or ailurophobe? ailurophile or cynophile?
ailurophile vs ailurophobe
An ailurophobe fears cats, the opposite of an ailurophile.
ailurophile vs cynophile
A cynophile loves dogs, not cats.
Practice
An ailurophile would most likely enjoy ____.
Choose one answer.
An ailurophile loves cats. Only the first fits.
Make it your own
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