salmon

noun

salm·​on ˈsa-mən 

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

Carson Jeffres, a senior researcher at UC Davis’ Center for Watershed Sciences, said Friday’s rapid drop in flows and resulting salmon deaths are unlikely to wipe out the Yuba’s runs, thanks to several recent wet years and a strong return of adult salmon. —Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 18 Feb. 2026

Officials said the salmon’s UPC code is 888670025963 and can be found on the reverse of the bag. —Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026

Customers can order five types of basic rolls on the happy hour menu, such as the salmon roll or spicy tuna roll for $8 each. —Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026

Choose oats, whole-grain breads, low-fat dairy, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish like salmon to support cholesterol and heart health. —Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 17 Feb. 2026

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

Phrases Containing salmon

• Atlantic salmon
• black salmon
• chinook salmon
• chum salmon
• jack salmon
• king salmon
• Pacific salmon
• pink salmon
• red salmon
• salmon pink
• silver salmon
• sockeye salmon

Rhymes for salmon

• famine
• gammon
• mammon
• backgammon
• examen
• examine
• glutamine
• reexamine

Kids Definition

salmon

noun

salm·​on ˈsam-ən 

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

: salmon pink

Geographical Definition

Salmon

geographical name

Salm·​on ˈsa-mən 

river 420 miles (676 kilometers) long in central Idaho flowing into the Snake River