minnow

noun

min·​now ˈmi-(ˌ)nō How to pronounce minnow (audio)
plural minnows also minnow
1
a
: a small cyprinid, killifish, or topminnow
b
: any of various small fish that are less than a designated size and are not game fish
2
: a live or artificial minnow used as bait

Examples of minnow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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From tiny Curaçao to the Tartan Army, jubilant fans celebrated Tuesday as a succession of minnows ended long waits to secure their spots alongside global icons and popular powerhouses competing for international sport's most coveted prize. Jay Ganglani, NBC news, 19 Nov. 2025 But Brazil were fundamentally flawed, only keeping one clean sheet, against minnows New Zealand. Michael Cox, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025 Try for crappie with jigs or minnows. Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025 Nick Tobler was curious about the water quality and tested it with a few minnows, which survived. Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for minnow

Word History

Etymology

Middle English menawe; akin to Old English myne minnow, Old High German munewa, a kind of fish

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of minnow was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Minnow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minnow. Accessed 12 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

minnow

noun
min·​now ˈmin-ō How to pronounce minnow (audio)
plural minnows also minnow
: any of various small freshwater fishes (as a dace or shiner) related to the carps
also : any of various small fishes that resemble minnows

More from Merriam-Webster on minnow

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