salmon

[ sam-uhn ]

noun

, plural salm·ons, (especially collectively) salm·on

1. a marine and freshwater food fish, Salmo salar, of the family Salmonidae, having pink flesh, inhabiting waters off the North Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America near the mouths of large rivers, which it enters to spawn.
2. landlocked salmon ( def ).
3. any of several salmonoid food fishes of the genus Oncorhynchus, inhabiting the North Pacific Ocean.
4. a light yellowish-pink.

adjective

1. of the color salmon.

salmon

/ ˈsæmən /

noun

1. any soft-finned fish of the family Salmonidae, esp Salmo salar of the Atlantic and Oncorhynchus species (sockeye, Chinook, etc) of the Pacific, which are important food fishes. They occur in cold and temperate waters and many species migrate to fresh water to spawn
2. any of several unrelated fish, esp the Australian salmon
3. short for salmon pink

Other Words From

• salmon·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of salmon¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English salmoun, samoun, from Anglo-French from Old French saumon, or directly from Latin salmōn-, stem of salmō

Word History and Origins

Origin of salmon¹

C13: from Old French saumon, from Latin salmō; related to Late Latin salar trout

Example Sentences

It’s a really nice quiet restaurant and I get my combo plate with broiled salmon, tamagoyaki, soup, rice and little pickles.

From Los Angeles Times

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sanctions have been further tightened and the availability of certain food from the West has become even more limited, among them Scottish whisky and Norwegian salmon.

From BBC

Another campaigner, Simon Walters, said the spills would affect sewin and salmon movements.

From BBC

“It could completely change the ecosystem, in a worst-case scenario, completely clarify the water, leaving less food for salmon and native fish,” Rypel said.

From Los Angeles Times

Among attendees at the Tuesday night event were many women wearing the organization’s signature salmon pink and apple green colors.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cardinal
• coral
• crimson
• flaming
• glowing
• maroon
• rose
• wine