sheepshead

noun

sheeps·​head ˈshēps-ˌhed 

1

: a marine bony fish (Archosargus probatocephalus of the family Sparidae) of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the U.S. that has broad front teeth and is used for food

2

: freshwater drum

3

: a largely red or rose-colored wrasse (Semicossyphus pulcher) of the California coast

Examples of sheepshead in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Tautog Like sheepshead, this Northeast and Mid-Atlantic wreck and reef dweller is highly adept at taking a piece of crab or clam off your hook before the tug even triggers your brain to swing. — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 17 June 2026

Redfish, trout, and sheepshead are plentiful, and charters can be arranged through any number of local marinas. — Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 5 July 2025

Delta fishermen eventually learned to smell redfish from a hundred yards off, and to distinguish the clouds of mud kicked up by their tails from those made by mullet or sheepshead. — Boyce Upholt, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 June 2025

Both casual and seasoned snorkelers can observe snook, snapper, sheepshead, nurse sharks, red sponges, and more marine life. — Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1643, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sheepshead

• abed
• ahead
• beachhead
• bedspread
• bedstead
• behead
• blackhead
• blockhead
• bloodshed
• bowhead
• breastfed
• bridgehead

Kids Definition

sheepshead

noun

sheeps·​head ˈshēps-ˌhed 

: any of several fishes

especially : a food fish of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the U.S. with broad front teeth