trout

noun

ˈtrau̇t 

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

b

: char entry 1

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

The demands of California’s agriculture and population growth have had severe consequences for native fish species since the early 20th century, with roughly 80% of previous populations of native salmon, trout, sturgeon and the delta smelt. —Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 25 Jan. 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, 25 Jan. 2025

Lunch here might be an herby smoked trout sandwich on thin slices of focaccia, a bowl of savory mushroom porridge, or a bright scoop of celery and citrus salad. —Becky Hughes, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025

Lake trout and burbot populations have increased, including a 2024 pronouncement that lake trout in Lake Superior have fully recovered. —Paul A. Smith, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2025

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

Phrases Containing trout

• brook trout
• brown trout
• cutthroat trout
• Dolly Varden trout
• golden trout
• lake trout
• mackinaw trout
• rainbow trout
• sea trout
• speckled trout
• spotted sea trout
• trout lily
• trout-perch

Kids Definition

trout

noun

ˈtrau̇t 

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