salmon

noun

salm·​on ˈsa-mən How to pronounce salmon (audio)
plural salmon also salmons
1
a
: a large anadromous salmonid fish (Salmo salar) of the North Atlantic noted as a game and food fish

called also Atlantic salmon

b
: any of various anadromous salmonid fishes other than the salmon
especially : pacific salmon
c
: a fish (such as a barramundi) resembling a salmon
2
: the variable color of salmon's flesh averaging a strong yellowish pink

Examples of salmon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Eating salmon for breakfast or dinner, or with certain types of foods, may enhance omega-3 fatty acid benefits. Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 8 Oct. 2025 Air fryer salmon and air fryer brussel sprouts seem to be particularly popular among the TikTok crowd. Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2025 For lunch or dinner, incorporating a piece of chicken, salmon, or beef could get you upwards of 30 to 40 grams of protein; Adair says a deck-of-cards-sized chunk of meat or fish is about 20 grams, for reference. Erica Sloan, SELF, 8 Oct. 2025 Canned Salmon Canned salmon is another seafood product that's packed with calcium. Jillian Kubala, Health, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for salmon

Word History

Etymology

Middle English samon, from Anglo-French salmon, samon, from Latin salmon-, salmo

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of salmon was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Salmon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salmon. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

salmon

noun
salm·​on ˈsam-ən How to pronounce salmon (audio)
plural salmon also salmons
1
: any of various large food and game fishes that are related to the trouts, have reddish or pinkish flesh, live in oceans or large lakes, and swim up rivers or streams to deposit or fertilize eggs: as
a
: one of the northern Atlantic that does not die after breeding

called also Atlantic salmon

b
: any of several fishes (as the Chinook salmon) of the northern Pacific that usually die after breeding

called also Pacific salmon

2

Geographical Definition

Salmon

geographical name

Salm·​on ˈsa-mən How to pronounce Salmon (audio)
river 420 miles (676 kilometers) long in central Idaho flowing into the Snake River

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