fillet

1 of 2

noun

fil·​let ˈfi-lət How to pronounce fillet (audio)
in sense 2b also
fi-ˈlā How to pronounce fillet (audio)
ˈfi-(ˌ)lā
variants or less commonly filet
fi-ˈlā How to pronounce fillet (audio)
ˈfi-(ˌ)lā
1
: a ribbon or narrow strip of material used especially as a headband
2
a
: a thin narrow strip of material
b
: a piece or slice of boneless meat or fish
especially : the tenderloin of beef
3
a
: a concave junction formed where two surfaces meet (as at an angle)
b
: a strip that gives a rounded appearance to such a junction
also : a strip to reinforce the corner where two surfaces meet
4
: a narrow flat architectural member:
a
: a flat molding separating others
b
: the space between two flutings (see flute entry 1 sense 3) in a shaft

fillet

2 of 2

verb

fil·​let ˈfi-lət How to pronounce fillet (audio)
in sense 2 also
fi-ˈlā How to pronounce fillet (audio)
ˈfi-(ˌ)lā
filleted; filleting; fillets

transitive verb

1
: to bind, furnish, or adorn with or as if with a fillet
2
: to cut into fillets

Examples of fillet in a Sentence

Noun a juicy fillet of beef Verb He carefully filleted the fish with a sharp knife.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In one study, analysts found that wild fish from the lower rungs of the food chain contained five times more calcium than farmed salmon fillets. Emily Saladino, Bon Appétit, 6 Sep. 2024 Get The Recipe These faux fillets feel fancy, but couldn't be simpler (or more inexpensive) to prepare. Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 18 Aug. 2024
Verb
Well, that’s the view (neatly filleted by Andrew Roberts, Churchill’s finest contemporary biographer, National Review’s Mark Wright, and others) of Darryl Cooper, the podcaster recently interviewed by Tucker Carlson. Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 10 Sep. 2024 The surgeons operated eight times in two weeks, filleting open the back of her leg with a two-foot incision from her glute to her calf. Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fillet 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fillet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English filet, from Anglo-French, diminutive of fil thread, from Latin filum — more at file

Verb

derivative of fillet entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near fillet

Cite this Entry

“Fillet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fillet. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

fillet

1 of 2 noun
fil·​let ˈfil-ət How to pronounce fillet (audio)
also
fi-ˈlā How to pronounce fillet (audio)
ˈfil-(ˌ)ā
variants also filet
fi-ˈlā How to pronounce fillet (audio)
ˈfil-(ˌ)ā
: a piece or slice of boneless meat or fish

fillet

2 of 2 verb
: to cut into fillets

Medical Definition

fillet

noun
fil·​let ˈfil-ət How to pronounce fillet (audio)
: a band of anatomical fibers
specifically : lemniscus

More from Merriam-Webster on fillet

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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