- malingerernounChapter 1 →
A person who pretends to be sick or injured in order to avoid work or duty. Yossarian checks himself into the hospital with a fake illness to stay out of combat.
- clausenounChapter 1 →
A specific condition or rule within a larger regulation or agreement. Here it refers to the particular provision of Catch-22 that traps the men logically.
“Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle.”
- censoringverbChapter 1 →
Officially reading and blacking out parts of letters or documents to prevent sensitive information from being shared. Yossarian does this absurdly, deleting random words for his own amusement.
- evasive actionphraseChapter 3 →
Deliberate maneuvers a pilot makes to dodge enemy fire during a bombing run, such as changing speed or direction unpredictably.
“Havermeyer was a happy-go-lucky fellow who never took evasive action going in to the target and even joked about it afterward.”
- happy-go-luckyadjectiveChapter 3 →
Cheerfully unconcerned about danger or consequences; carefree to the point of recklessness in a situation where others feel fear.
“Havermeyer was a happy-go-lucky fellow who never took evasive action going in to the target and even joked about it afterward.”
- rationaladjectiveChapter 3 →
Based on clear, logical thinking rather than emotion or fear. In Catch-22, being rational is itself the trap — a sane man must keep flying because his fear proves his sanity.
“which specified that a concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind.”
- groundedverbChapter 4 →
Officially prohibited from flying, usually for medical or psychological reasons. A pilot who is grounded is removed from combat flight duty.
“Sure, I can ground Orr. But first he has to ask me to. That's part of the rule. Then I must do it.”
- draftedverbChapter 4 →
Compulsorily enlisted into military service by the government, without having volunteered. The person has no choice but to serve.
“He had been drafted and he was going to make the most of it.”
- buzzedverbChapter 4 →
Flew an aircraft very low and fast over a place, close enough to cause alarm or noise. McWatt does this over the tents as a thrill-seeking stunt.
“McWatt buzzed the tent again and Daneeka scrambled away from the noise with a moan, his face pale and his eyes wide with fright.”
- pneumonianounChapter 5 →
A serious lung infection that can be fatal, especially without treatment. Chief White Halfoat has chosen it as his preferred way to die, deliberately drinking to weaken himself.
“Chief White Halfoat had decided to die of pneumonia, and he was starting to drink himself to death as a means to that end.”
- emaciatedadjectiveChapter 6 →
Extremely thin and weak from lack of food or illness, to the point where the body looks wasted away.
“Hungry Joe was a jumpy, emaciated young man whose idea of a good time was to take pictures of naked girls.”
- villain of the piecephraseChapter 6 →
The person or thing most to blame for a problem or bad situation. Used ironically here, since the 'villain' is a cat.
“Huple's cat was the real villain of the piece.”
- Krafft-EbingnounChapter 8 →
A famous 19th-century medical book cataloguing sexual disorders and deviant behavior, written by the psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing. Its presence signals that Scheisskopf's wife reads it for titillation.
“his wife waited up for him in bed thumbing through Krafft-Ebing to her favourite passages.”
- straitjacketsnounChapter 8 →
Restraining garments with long sleeves that tie behind the back, used to prevent violent or mentally ill people from moving their arms. Here considered as a tool for controlling soldiers.
“One was to have a friend of his in the hospital annex supply him with a bundle of straitjackets.”
- mediocritynounChapter 9 →
The quality of being average, unremarkable, and lacking any special talent or distinction. The novel uses it to describe Major Major's entire existence as defined by ordinariness.
“Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.”
- mimeographnounChapter 10 →
An early office duplicating machine that prints copies of typed documents using a stencil and ink. Controlling one gave Wintergreen enormous unofficial power over military communications.
“He had access to a mimeograph machine.”
- busted backphraseChapter 10 →
Reduced in military rank as a punishment, losing stripes and pay. Wintergreen is repeatedly demoted to the lowest rank of private.
“He had been busted back to private so many times that his stripes were beginning to wear out.”
- subversivenounChapter 11 →
A person considered a threat to authority or the established order because they undermine or refuse to comply with its rules and demands.
“'You're a subversive. Every time I come to you with a new loyalty oath, you refuse to sign it.'”
- loyalty oathphraseChapter 11 →
A formal written pledge of allegiance to a government, institution, or cause, which a person is required to sign to prove they are not a traitor or enemy.
“Every time I come to you with a new loyalty oath, you refuse to sign it.”
- free enterprisephraseChapter 13 →
An economic system in which private individuals run businesses for profit with minimal government control. Milo uses the phrase to justify his war-profiteering syndicate.
“Milo had been converted to the cause of free enterprise by the example of de Coverley himself.”
- leonineadjectiveChapter 13 →
Resembling a lion, especially in having a large, impressive, mane-like head. Used to convey that de Coverley has a powerful, commanding physical presence.
“Major ——— de Coverley was a splendid, awe-inspiring, grave old man with a massive leonine head and an angry look of rigid dignity.”
- austereadjectiveChapter 13 →
Stern, severe, and without warmth or decoration; conveying strict self-discipline and an intimidating seriousness.
“an angry look of rigid dignity that seemed to evoke the quality of an eagle's fierce and austere gran…”
- syndicatenounChapter 10 →
A business organization in which multiple parties share ownership and profits. Milo's M & M Enterprises is his personal war-profiteering network disguised as a cooperative.
- patriotnounChapter 11 →
A person who claims devoted love and support for their country. Used ironically here, since the character is exploiting the war for personal gain while performing loyalty.
“He had decided to share his good fortune with as many people as possible and show the world what a real patriot he was.”
- procurementnounChapter 22 →
The act of obtaining or acquiring supplies, goods, or materials, especially for an organization or military operation. Milo travels the Mediterranean buying and trading goods for his syndicate.
Catch-22Novel by Joseph Heller