wildcat meaning and definition

WILDCAT noun

Definition of wildcat (noun)

1. an exploratory oil well drilled in land not known to be an oil field
   • synonyms: wildcat well
2. a cruelly rapacious person
   • synonyms: beast, brute, savage, wolf
3. any small or medium-sized cat resembling the domestic cat and living in the wild

WILDCAT adjective

Definition of wildcat (adjective)

1. 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"
2. without official authorization
   • "an unauthorized strike"; "wildcat work stoppage"
   • synonyms: unauthorised, unauthorized
3. (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"