mermaid

noun

mer·​maid ˈmər-ˌmād 

: 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

An artist airbrushed tattoos of mermaids and butterflies on torsos and biceps. —Deborah Sengupta Stith, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026

The dress has a mermaid silhouette and straight strapless neckline, which allowed for a theatrical play of volume and dramatic texture. —Pamela Vázquez, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026

Rose Byrne stunned in a strapless black mermaid Dior gown that featured delicate embroidered floral appliqués with shimmering beadwork running diagonally across the bodice and down the skirt, which flowed into a train. —Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 15 Mar. 2026

Celebrity hairstylist Renato Campora curled Kate Hudson’s mermaid-length strands using ghd hair tools, including the same model of curling iron used on Emma Stone’s flippy bob. —Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026

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

Rhymes for mermaid

• afraid
• allayed
• arcade
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted

Kids Definition

mermaid

noun

mer·​maid ˈmər-ˌmād 

: 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"