fishing line

noun

: a long line or cord attached to a hook and used for fishing

also : the type of line designed for this purpose

a length of fishing line

—used specifically for a strong, usually monofilament cord made from a polymer (such as nylon or Dacron)

… is held firm in the pot by plaster of paris and covered with sphagnum moss bound with clear fishing line.

—Patricia Leigh Brown

Just about any string, cord or thread will do for a kite line, but because the best line supplied adequate strength with minimal wind resistance and weight, a thin, strong line is clearly better than a thick, weak one. Monofilament fishing line has both qualities, but many kiters shun it for the same reason fishermen curse it: it gets hopelessly tangled up in itself.

—Robert Kimber

Examples of fishing line in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Volunteers can adopt a fishing line recovery bin in their area. —Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Dec. 2024

Anglers can also avoid endangering wildlife with fishing lines by using them properly based on fish and technique, the news release continued. —Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 24 Nov. 2024

For the sixth year in a row, the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife has delayed the start of the commercial crab fishing season through most of the state’s coast to protect endangered humpback whales from getting entangled in vertical fishing lines, which can result in injuries and even death. —Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024

Warming ocean waters are also disrupting food supplies, while entanglement with commercial fishing lines is another danger whales face. —Russ Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above