fishing line

noun

: a long line or cord attached to a hook and used for fishing

also : the type of line designed for this purpose

a length of fishing line

—used specifically for a strong, usually monofilament cord made from a polymer (such as nylon or Dacron)

… is held firm in the pot by plaster of paris and covered with sphagnum moss bound with clear fishing line.

—Patricia Leigh Brown

Just about any string, cord or thread will do for a kite line, but because the best line supplied adequate strength with minimal wind resistance and weight, a thin, strong line is clearly better than a thick, weak one. Monofilament fishing line has both qualities, but many kiters shun it for the same reason fishermen curse it: it gets hopelessly tangled up in itself.

—Robert Kimber

Examples of fishing line in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Volunteers needed to recover fishing line: Volusia County needs environmentally minded volunteers to participate in the Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program. —Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2025

Here, fat-tire bicycles seem to outnumber cars, hours are measured in sunscreen applications and tugs on fishing lines, and island nightlife belongs to nesting sea turtles. —Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2025

In cases where the entire fish was taken, the monofilament fishing line was swabbed for DNA, the report says. —Mark Price, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025

Volunteers can adopt a fishing line recovery bin in their area. —Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fishing line

• acridine
• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• atropine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine