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

One of many great trout streams that wind through this state, which is really a destination for fly fishing, white water boating — river recreation is huge here in Colorado. —Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 10 June 2026

Enjoy tapas like mini cornetos de atun, crispy cones of tuna tartare and orange escabeche; or ensalada de patata, a Dungeness crab and potato salad with trout roe, piquillo peppers and olives for an elevated surf and turf lunch or dinner for dad. —Laura Ness, Mercury News, 9 June 2026

Rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species, but with different lifestyles. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026

Catch trout, salmon, walleye, pike, and more. —Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 7 June 2026

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

Rhymes for trout

• bout
• clout
• doubt
• drought
• flout
• gout
• grout
• kraut
• lout
• out
• pout
• rout

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