angler

noun

an·​gler ˈaŋ-glər 

plural anglers

1

: a person who catches fish with a hook and fishing line : someone who angles (see angle entry 3 sense 1)

Catching striped bass isn't especially difficult for properly equipped anglers.

—Buddy Mays

The hunt is on … for that special fish that will land some lucky angler in the record book.

—The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union News

2

: anglerfish

… contestants will be asked to cook a hot dish of angler or monkfish with vegetables for 15 diners; angler is a fish known for its unattractive appearance.

—Estefany Maya

Examples of angler in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Jones Gap State Park, South Carolina Jones Gap State Park contains two towering waterfalls and a stretch of the Middle Saluda River, along which anglers go to fish for trout. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026

Upgraded in recent years, keen anglers now have easy and direct access to the Raccoon River, a waterway commonly associated with catfish, bass, and walleye. —Des Moines Register, 19 Jan. 2026

State law requires boaters, anglers and waterfront property owners to take a variety of actions to prevent the spread of zebra mussels, regardless of whether a lake has an infestation, according to the DNR. —Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 16 Jan. 2026

This type of fishing is typically most beginner-friendly and lets anglers focus on finding fish, not mechanics. —Francesca Krempa, Outside, 15 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English angler, angleer, from anglen "to angle entry 3" + -er -er entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for angler

• strangler

Kids Definition

angler

noun

an·​gler ˈaŋ-glər 

1

: a person who fishes with hook and line especially for pleasure

2

: anglerfish