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 Ketchup runs in Fargo like the salmon in Alaska, the pair says. —Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024 Fewer than 80,000 Central Valley fall-run Chinook salmon returned to spawn in 2022, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. —Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 8 Apr. 2024 Festival food includes sushi, spam musubi, gyoza, yakisoba, mochi, teriyaki chicken rice bowls, shave ice, cotton candy and bento boxes with pork cutlet, teriyaki salmon or sesame tofu, with iced coffee, boba drinks, beer, sake, plum wine, sodas and lemonade to wash it all down. —Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2024 Chinook salmon begin their lives in freshwater rivers and streams. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024 The Lookingglass Hatchery, located about 300 miles east of Portland, is one of the 33 hatcheries in Oregon which harvests stocks of salmon to be used for food or sport fishing. —Noah Osborne, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024 Early in the spring season especially, they’re still used to eating hatchery pellets, which is ultimately why a little ball of Power Bait, a corn kernel, or salmon egg fools them. —Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 4 Apr. 2024 My current favorite is the mango mango roll, which has white fish, salmon, and avocado inside, and mango on top. —Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 4 Apr. 2024 Furthermore, the salmon taste is one most dogs will love, especially with all the rich oils. Verma Farms sources from hemp grown in the USA. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

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 24 Apr. 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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