anadromous

[ uh-nad-ruh-muhs ]

adjective

1. (of fish) migrating from salt water to spawn in fresh water, as salmon of the genera Salmo and Oncorhynchus ( catadromous ).

anadromous

/ əˈnædrəməs /

adjective

1. (of fishes such as the salmon) migrating up rivers from the sea in order to breed Compare catadromous

anadromous

/ ə-năd′rə-məs /

1. Relating to fish, such as salmon or shad, that migrate up rivers from the sea to breed in fresh water.

Word History and Origins

Origin of anadromous¹

First recorded in 1745–55, anadromous is from the Greek word anádromos running upward. See ana-, -drome, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of anadromous¹

C18: from Greek anadromos running upwards, from ana- + dromos a running

Example Sentences

Salmon are anadromous, meaning they spend much of their lives in the ocean but return to freshwater rivers to spawn.

From BBC

Well, yes, but that is NOT true for the Walla Walla and Yakima River basins, where vineyards are irrigated at the expense of native and anadromous fisheries.

From Seattle Times

“These would represent extraordinary and unprecedented levels of anadromous fish habitat losses and degradation, dramatically expanding the unacceptable adverse effects identified in the 2020 plan,” the document stated.

From Seattle Times

If our recent bout of record-breaking rain has you down, then you’re probably not an anadromous fish.

From Seattle Times

Pacific salmon are anadromous; they begin their lives in fresh water, migrate to the ocean to live their adult lives, then return to their freshwater home stream to reproduce and die.

From Seattle Times