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
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By all indications, the DOJ data call is a massive fishing expedition. Mary Ellen Klas, Twin Cities, 9 Aug. 2025 Oceania offers plenty of shore excursions in each port, ranging from sightseeing tours to fishing expeditions, all at extra cost. Scott Laird, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2025 Specifically designed for these unique fish, this lightweight option is great for all-day fishing expeditions. Christopher Murray May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 31 July 2025 But first, in episode three, Cousins goes to Great Clips in what comes across as a fishing expedition to be the next Great Clips spokesperson. Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for fishing expedition

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fishing expedition was in 1874

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fishing expedition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fishing%20expedition. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

Legal Definition

fishing expedition

noun
fish·​ing ex·​pe·​di·​tion
-ˌek-spə-ˈdi-shən
1
: an inquiry (as by the use of discovery) that is unnecessarily extensive or unrelated to the lawsuit
2
: an investigation that does not stick to a stated objective but hopes to uncover incriminating or newsworthy evidence
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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