Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
catch-22
noun
ˈkaCH ˈtwenty-ˈtwo
Definition
A dilemma or troublesome situation from which there is no escape because of mutually conflicting or dependent conditions.
Examples
- Getting a job requires experience, but to gain experience, you need a job: it’s a classic catch-22.
- The situation she found herself in was a catch-22; she needed money to get an apartment, but she needed an apartment to get a job.
Meaning
A catch-22 refers to a situation where a person cannot avoid a problem due to contradictory rules or conditions.
Synonyms
- lose-lose situation
- double bind
- no-win situation
