tarpon

noun

tar·​pon ˈtär-pən How to pronounce tarpon (audio)
plural tarpon or tarpons
: a large silvery elongate bony fish (Megalops atlanticus of the family Megalopidae) that occurs especially in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and warm coastal waters of the Atlantic, reaches a length of about six feet (two meters), and is often caught for sport

Examples of tarpon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Then, from April to August, is when the thousands of tarpons come in. Mary Forgione, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025 Robbie’s Marina: No trip through the Upper Keys is complete without a stop to feed the tarpon. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025 Elsewhere in the Keys, worsening water quality has been identified as one of the factors responsible for a decline in bonefish and tarpon, and the devastation of Florida's coral reefs. Greg Allen, NPR, 5 Mar. 2025 Biggest tarpon: 286 pounds, 9 ounces, caught in Guinea-Bissau in West Africa in 2003. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tarpon

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1685, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tarpon was in 1685

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Cite this Entry

“Tarpon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tarpon. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

tarpon

noun
tar·​pon ˈtär-pən How to pronounce tarpon (audio)
plural tarpon or tarpons
: a large silvery sport fish found in the Gulf of Mexico and warm coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean

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