fishing expedition
noun
1
: a legal interrogation or examination to discover information for a later proceeding
2
: an investigation that does not stick to a stated objective but hopes to uncover incriminating or newsworthy evidence
Examples of fishing expedition in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Among the first items on the trip’s itinerary list: a deep-sea fishing expedition.
—
Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The latest example: Biden’s FBI went on a fishing expedition and subpoenaed the phone records of 9 members of Congress.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
In their motion, though, prosecutors said questions about the suspension would amount to a highly prejudicial fishing expedition unrelated to the charges Urbina faces.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Turning into a quagmire, and with other Baldoni-leaning content creators and influencers publicly pushing back against their own subpoenas, that legal fishing expedition of sorts was cut short not long after by Lively’s Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and Willkie Farr & Gallagher lawyers.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fishing expedition
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.
Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The latest example: Biden’s FBI went on a fishing expedition and subpoenaed the phone records of 9 members of Congress.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
In their motion, though, prosecutors said questions about the suspension would amount to a highly prejudicial fishing expedition unrelated to the charges Urbina faces.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Turning into a quagmire, and with other Baldoni-leaning content creators and influencers publicly pushing back against their own subpoenas, that legal fishing expedition of sorts was cut short not long after by Lively’s Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and Willkie Farr & Gallagher lawyers.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fishing expedition
Cite this Entry
“Fishing expedition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fishing%20expedition. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share