mermaid

noun

mer·​maid ˈmər-ˌmād How to pronounce mermaid (audio)
: a fabled marine creature with the head and upper body of a woman and the tail of a fish

Examples of mermaid 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.
As for her glam, Strogoff wore her bright blonde hair in loose mermaid waves and darkened her eyebrows to a near black for a bold contrast. Starr Bowenbank, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025 This hotel, which appeals to budget-conscious travelers with its free aquarium and mermaid show, offers free self-parking and valet parking. Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 2 Oct. 2025 Burnett learned how to disassociate, pretending at bath time to be a mermaid or drawing comics about a fictional happy family. Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025 The central bar features mermaid-scale tiling, and rich yacht-style wood finishings throughout and other maritime details speak to the overall nautical theme. Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mermaid

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mermayde, from mere sea (from Old English) + mayde maid — more at marine

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mermaid was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Mermaid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mermaid. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

mermaid

noun
mer·​maid ˈmər-ˌmād How to pronounce mermaid (audio)
: an imaginary sea creature usually represented with a woman's body and a fish's tail
Etymology

Middle English mermayde "mermaid," from mere "lake, pool, sea" and mayde "maid"

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