rainbow trout

noun

: a large stout-bodied salmonid fish (Oncorhynchus mykiss synonym Salmo gairdneri) of western North America that is related to the Pacific salmon and is typically greenish above and white on the belly with a pink, red, or lavender stripe along each side of the body and with profuse black dots compare steelhead

Illustration of rainbow trout

Examples of rainbow trout in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It was determined that rainbow trout suffer ten minutes of moderate to intense pain between extraction from the water and unconsciousness from asphyxiation and that every dollar spent on electrical-stunning technology could avert between 60 and 1,200 minutes of moderate to extreme fish pain. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025

Both brown and rainbow trout can be found at depths of 15 to 20 feet and are especially active in late winter and early spring. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2025

But my single luminous rainbow trout was enough to earn me a stripe with Tommy. —Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025

Some fish species, like rainbow trout, brook trout and coho salmon, are dying from toxic chemicals linked to tire wear particles. —Boluwatife S. Olubusoye, The Conversation, 22 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rainbow trout

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout

Kids Definition

rainbow trout

noun

: a large trout native to western North America that usually has red or pink stripes with black dots on its sides compare steelhead