wildcat Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an exploratory oil well drilled in land not known to be an oil field
    wildcat well.
  2. noun a cruelly rapacious person
    beast; savage; wolf; brute.
  3. noun any small or medium-sized cat resembling the domestic cat and living in the wild
  4. adjective satellite outside the bounds of legitimate or ethical business practices
    • wildcat currency issued by irresponsible banks
    • wildcat stock speculation
    • a wildcat airline
    • wildcat life insurance schemes
  5. adjective satellite without official authorization
    unauthorised; unauthorized.
    • an unauthorized strike
    • wildcat work stoppage
  6. adjective satellite (of a mine or oil well) drilled speculatively in an area not known to be productive
    • drilling there would be strictly a wildcat operation
    • a wildcat mine
    • wildcat drilling
    • wildcat wells

WordNet