dragnet

noun

drag·​net ˈdrag-ˌnet 

1

a

: a net drawn along the bottom of a body of water

b

: a net used on the ground (as to capture small game)

2

: a network of measures for apprehension (as of criminals)

Examples of dragnet in a Sentence

Nine suspects were caught in the police dragnet.

Recent Examples on the Web

The dragnet has resulted in several asylum-seeking immigrants detained in Houston, including a teenager from Honduras who was the co-captain of his high school soccer team before he was arrested and sent to the detention center in Conroe. —Aileen Clarke, Houston Chronicle, 6 May 2026

The landmark case is the first time the justices will consider whether the controversial practice of digital dragnets, which have grown in popularity among law enforcement with advances in technology, violate constitutional protections against unreasonable searches. —Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026

But civil libertarians are unnerved about casting such a wide dragnet that captures highly personal information from hundreds or perhaps thousands of people who aren’t criminals. —Bart Jansen, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026

Meanwhile, the costs of Florida’s dragnet are starting to emerge. —Mary Ellen Klas, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Rhymes for dragnet

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• beset
• binet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette

Kids Definition

dragnet

noun

drag·​net ˈdrag-ˌnet 

1

: a net dragged along the bottom of a body of water

2

: a series of planned actions for catching a criminal