tarpon

noun

tar·​pon ˈtär-pən 

plural tarpon or tarpons

: a large silvery elongate bony fish (Megalops atlanticus of the family Megalopidae) that occurs especially in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and warm coastal waters of the Atlantic, reaches a length of about six feet (two meters), and is often caught for sport

Examples of tarpon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Also in the menagerie was a manatee named Samantha and an aggressive flock of pelicans poised to snatch fish not promptly gobbled up by the tarpon. —Marnie Hunter, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2025

Shannon, 42, recently had back surgery and didn’t want to risk injuring herself in rougher, deeper water, or by pulling up a big tarpon on the flats. —David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2025

Then, from April to August, is when the thousands of tarpons come in. —Mary Forgione, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025

Robbie’s Marina: No trip through the Upper Keys is complete without a stop to feed the tarpon. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1685, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tarpon

• sharpen
• pilocarpine

Kids Definition

tarpon

noun

tar·​pon ˈtär-pən 

plural tarpon or tarpons

: a large silvery sport fish found in the Gulf of Mexico and warm coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean