To swat means to hit or strike something quickly with a flat motion, usually with your hand or a flat object. When a fly buzzes around your sandwich at a picnic, you might swat at it with your hand or a rolled-up newspaper. A cat might swat a toy mouse with its paw, batting it across the floor.

The motion of swatting is quick, sharp, and usually aimed at something small or annoying. You swat a mosquito that's landed on your arm, or swat away a branch that's blocking your path on a hike. The word captures both the speed and the flat, sweeping nature of the movement.

As a noun, a swat is a quick, flat hit. People also use swat to describe quick dismissals of ideas, like when someone swats down a suggestion they think won't work. A teacher might swat away excuses for missing homework with a simple “I've heard that before.”