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
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.
Standout dishes include the punchy trout paprikash and duck breast with beetroot puree, with a lineup of vibrant hot and cold starters that make choosing just one nearly impossible. Lanee Lee, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025 To see or catch a bull trout in a place like the Jarbidge Wilderness can be a quasi-mystical experience. James Pogue, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025 The trout were taken to Fillmore Hatchery, which, in a cruel twist, came under threat from the Hughes Fire almost immediately. Anton Sorokin, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Feb. 2025 Pumping to supply farms and cities has contributed to the ecological degradation of the Delta, where the fish species that are listed as threatened or endangered include steelhead trout, two types of Chinook salmon, longfin smelt, Delta smelt and green sturgeon. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Trout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trout. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.

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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