minnow

noun

min·​now ˈmi-(ˌ)nō 

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

Other anglers prefer tube jigs or a jig with a tiny minnow impaled through its dorsal fin. —Cory Schmidt, Outdoor Life, 15 Apr. 2026

The movements no longer those of a minnow but rather of a garter snake in grass, with that edge of hiddenness and surprise. —Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026

When catching pilchards is difficult, captain Dennis Forgione thaws a box of glass minnows in a bucket of water and throws a handful of the little fish in the water every 20 minutes. —Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026

The common name, Umzimkhulu redfin minnow, refers to the river where the species was first discovered. —Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026

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

Kids Definition

minnow

noun

min·​now ˈmin-ō 

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