salmon

noun

salm·​on ˈsa-mən How to pronounce salmon (audio)
plural salmon also salmons
1
a
: a large anadromous salmonid fish (Salmo salar) of the North Atlantic noted as a game and food fish

called also Atlantic salmon

b
: any of various anadromous salmonid fishes other than the salmon
especially : pacific salmon
c
: a fish (such as a barramundi) resembling a salmon
2
: the variable color of salmon's flesh averaging a strong yellowish pink

Examples of salmon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Fishing advocates, though, insist the real problem is that the governor’s administration is sending too much water to cities and farms, leaving rivers without enough cold flows for salmon to survive. —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2024 China in the past has blocked Australian wine and barley, fruit from the Philippines and salmon from Norway among other cases, citing grounds like food safety or anti-dumping. —Bloomberg, Fortune Asia, 20 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for salmon 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'salmon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English samon, from Anglo-French salmon, samon, from Latin salmon-, salmo

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of salmon was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing salmon

Dictionary Entries Near salmon

Salmo

salmon

Salmon

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Salmon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salmon. Accessed 28 May. 2024.

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Kids Definition

salmon

noun
salm·​on ˈsam-ən How to pronounce salmon (audio)
plural salmon also salmons
1
: any of various large food and game fishes that are related to the trouts, have reddish or pinkish flesh, live in oceans or large lakes, and swim up rivers or streams to deposit or fertilize eggs: as
a
: one of the northern Atlantic that does not die after breeding

called also Atlantic salmon

b
: any of several fishes (as the Chinook salmon) of the northern Pacific that usually die after breeding

called also Pacific salmon

2
: salmon pink

Geographical Definition

Salmon

geographical name

Salm·​on ˈsa-mən How to pronounce Salmon (audio)
river 420 miles (676 kilometers) long in central Idaho flowing into the Snake River

More from Merriam-Webster on salmon

Nglish: Translation of salmon for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of salmon for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about salmon

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