Schrödinger cat

A form of Schrödinger's cat — A hypothetical cat that is depicted as being surrounded by perfectly uncertain circumstances that make an external observer absolutely unable to deem the cat either alive or dead, especially if the possibilities of survival of the cat are expected to be analysed from the point of view of quantum mechanics. Typically, these circumstances involve the cat being inside a box while being the victim of a danger that may or may not kill it, such as radiation.

Meanings

nounSchrödinger cat (plural Schrödinger cats)

plural Schrödinger cats

  1. alternativeAlternative form of Schrödinger's cat
Cite this entry
APA

Schrödinger cat. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Schr%C3%B6dinger%20cat

MLA

“Schrödinger cat.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Schr%C3%B6dinger%20cat. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Schrödinger cat,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Schr%C3%B6dinger%20cat.

Source: Schrödinger cat on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.