fillet

1 of 2

noun

fil·​let ˈfi-lət 

in sense 2b also

fi-ˈlā 

ˈfi-(ˌ)lā

variants or less commonly filet

fi-ˈlā 

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 

in sense 2 also

fi-ˈlā 

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

Measure flour onto a plate; then press each fillet into flour for light coating on both sides. —Judy Bart Kancigor, Oc Register, 28 May 2026

Do not skip the ghindara no saikyo-yaki—a fillet of black cod marinated for 72 hours and cooked in sake, and wrapped in a Japanese magnolia leaf. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026

Verb

The fish is filleted and frozen, and food banks and schools have to come to Portland to pick it up. —Joe Hernandez, NPR, 23 May 2026

His other job, starting at age seven, was to fillet the catch. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 May 2026

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

Phrases Containing fillet

• fillet weld

Rhymes for fillet

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• assez
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway

Kids Definition

fillet

1 of 2 noun

fil·​let ˈfil-ət 

also

fi-ˈlā 

ˈfil-(ˌ)ā

variants also filet

fi-ˈlā 

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 

: a band of anatomical fibers

specifically : lemniscus