WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
catch•line
(kach′līn′),USA pronunciation n.
- a word, phrase, or sentence used, esp. in advertising or journalism, to arouse or call attention.
- a line in which a catchword appears.
- a line of lesser importance, set shorter or sometimes in smaller type than the lines above and beneath it.
- [Theat.]a line of comic dialogue expected to elicit laughter.
- slug1 (def. 10a).
- catch + line1 1865–70
'catchline' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):