harpoon

noun

har·​poon här-ˈpün 

: a barbed spear or javelin used especially in hunting large fish or whales

harpoon transitive verb

harpooner noun

Examples of harpoon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Shop owner John Sylvia is sticking to his guns, or antique whaling harpoon cannons. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 29 July 2026

Bornemann regularly sources swordfish, but his is caught by hand harpoon. — David Hochman, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Kitchen utensils hung from a harpoon for catching octopus, and a wicker basket of swim fins sat expectantly by the open door. — Rachel Howard, Travel + Leisure, 7 May 2026

First, the men are menaced by an enormous, enraged sperm whale (terrifying, even as on some level the reader can’t help rooting for it against the harpoons), which rams and ultimately sinks their boat. — Eva Holland, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably from Dutch harpoen, from Middle Dutch, from Old French harpon brooch, from harper to grapple

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for harpoon

• attune
• baboon
• balloon
• bassoon
• buffoon
• cartoon
• cocoon
• festoon
• gaboon
• immune
• impugn
• jejune

Kids Definition

harpoon

1 of 2 noun

har·​poon

här-ˈpün

: a barbed spear used especially in hunting large fish or whales

harpoon

2 of 2 verb

: to strike with a harpoon

harpooner noun

Medical Definition

harpoon

noun

har·​poon här-ˈpün 

: a medical instrument with a barbed head used for removing bits of living tissue for examination