minnow

noun

min·​now ˈmi-(ˌ)nō How to pronounce minnow (audio)
plural minnows also minnow
1
a
: a small cyprinid, killifish, or topminnow
b
: any of various small fish that are less than a designated size and are not game fish
2
: a live or artificial minnow used as bait

Examples of minnow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
World Cup minnow Haiti took a 2-1 lead against a strong looking Morocco, scoring one of the goals of the tournament in the process and bringing joy to countless Haitian fans. Ben Church, CNN Money, 4 July 2026 Compared to powerhouses like France or Spain, Bosnia is a relative minnow of European soccer. Becky Sullivan, NPR, 1 July 2026 But these were minnows, and Zico saved his best performance for the showdown against Argentina; Zico against Diego Maradona. Michael Cox, New York Times, 1 July 2026 Sweden are no minnows, either, and will be eager to put an end to the French juggernaut. Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for minnow

Word History

Etymology

Middle English menawe; akin to Old English myne minnow, Old High German munewa, a kind of fish

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of minnow was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Minnow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minnow. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

minnow

noun
min·​now ˈmin-ō How to pronounce minnow (audio)
plural minnows also minnow
: any of various small freshwater fishes (as a dace or shiner) related to the carps
also : any of various small fishes that resemble minnows

More from Merriam-Webster on minnow

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster