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

Weeklong extreme fly-fishing itineraries are offered mid-October through April, with endless opportunities to hook brown, brook, and rainbow trout, as well as steelhead and Chinook salmon toward season’s end. —Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2025

Just off her patio, a tank of frisky rainbow trout pulses with water siphoned in from a nearby river. —Ellen Ruppel Shell, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024

The property also has two ponds and a 40-acre private reservoir that is stocked with rainbow trout that have grown up to 20 to 25 inches long, Deakin said. —Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 15 Apr. 2025

You can get smoked salmon, rainbow trout, or Atlantic salmon. —Ronny Maye, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 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