rainbow trout

noun

: a large stout-bodied salmonid fish (Oncorhynchus mykiss synonym Salmo gairdneri) of western North America that is related to the Pacific salmon and is typically greenish above and white on the belly with a pink, red, or lavender stripe along each side of the body and with profuse black dots compare steelhead

Illustration of rainbow trout

Illustration of rainbow trout

Examples of rainbow trout in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Although Upper Klamath Lake was known for unusually huge rainbow trout, some two feet long, that attracted anglers in droves, little thought was given to the Chinook salmon that had once thrived in the Klamath River but were no longer seen so far upstream. Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024 Plus, the enormous baby has a healthy appetite, feasting on 25 fish—sand whiting, rainbow trout and salmon—each day. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Nov. 2024 Guided ice-fishing adventures are available on nearby Lake Cascade, where anglers can fish for jumbo perch, bass, rainbow trout and other species. Roger Sands, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024 Salmon, mackerel, sardines, rainbow trout, and anchovies are five of the healthiest fish to eat. Brittany Lubeck, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 19 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rainbow trout 

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rainbow trout was in 1880

Dictionary Entries Near rainbow trout

Cite this Entry

“Rainbow trout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rainbow%20trout. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

rainbow trout

noun
: a large trout native to western North America that usually has red or pink stripes with black dots on its sides compare steelhead

More from Merriam-Webster on rainbow trout

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!