bluegill

American  

[bloo-gil] / ˈbluˌgɪl /

noun

1. a freshwater sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus, of the Mississippi River valley, used for food.

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bluegill British  

/ ˈbluːˌɡɪl /

noun

1. a common North American freshwater sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus : an important food and game fish

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Etymology

Origin of bluegill

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; blue + gill ¹

Example Sentences

He said Beckstrom loved to hunt and fish for bass and bluegill and ride four-wheelers on trails through the mountains.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 29, 2025

They take every opportunity to carb up for the exhausting spawn, devouring bait fish, crawdads and, if lucky, a related family member, the bluegill.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2022

“What I’ve done is gone to imitation bluegill baits. That’s my own creation. Not on the market. You gotta match what they’re eating. That’s the best way to trick a trophy fish.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2022

Bream and bluegill are good using live worms and power bait pellets.

From Washington Times • Oct. 21, 2020

I even snagged my first fish, a tiny bluegill.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry