plural trout also trouts
1
: any of various salmonid food and sport fishes that are mostly smaller than the typical salmons and are anadromous or restricted to cool clear fresh water:
a
: any of various Old or New World fishes (genera Salmo, Salvelinus, and Oncorhynchus) compare brown trout, rainbow trout
2
: any of various fishes (such as the largemouth bass) held to resemble the true trouts

Examples of trout in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
In at least one instance, trout was sold as salmon. Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024 Brook trout are native to Pond Creek, which is catch-and-release only. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2024 Rainbow Trout Rainbow trout are considered a low-contaminant fish with high nutritional value, as follows: Benefits Like other types of oily fish, rainbow trout are a good source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Brittany Lubeck, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 19 Sep. 2024 Physics Prize This one went to American James C. Liao, who in 2004 released a paper in The Journal of Experimental Biology that detailed just how good dead trout are at swimming. New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for trout 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English trūht, from Late Latin trocta, tructa, a fish with sharp teeth, from Greek trōktēs, literally, gnawer, from trōgein to gnaw — more at troglodyte

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of trout was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near trout

Cite this Entry

“Trout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trout. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

trout

noun
plural trout also trouts
1
: any of various edible fishes that are mostly smaller than the related salmons, are restricted to cool clear fresh water or spend time at sea before returning to fresh water to breed, and are often speckled with dark colors
2
: any of various fishes that resemble the true trouts

More from Merriam-Webster on trout

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