anadromous

American  

[uh-nad-ruh-muhs] / əˈnæd rə məs /

adjective

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

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anadromous British  

/ əˈnædrəməs /

adjective

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

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anadromous Scientific  

/ 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.

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Etymology

Origin of anadromous

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

Example Sentences

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

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2024

“Opening up the channels downstream to support the return of anadromous fish needs to be a top priority for all sectors of Washington,” he says.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 10, 2021

They interfere with, or block altogether, the migration of anadromous fish such as salmon and steelhead.

From Washington Times • Nov. 15, 2017

Even though officials have made it easier for the anadromous fish to migrate from the ocean to freshwater rivers where they are born, “the fish aren’t coming back,” he said.

From Washington Post

The anadromous fishes pass most of their lives in the sea, run up stream only for the purpose of spawning, and constitute the most valuable of our river fishes.

From Boy Scouts Handbook The First Edition, 1911 by Boy Scouts of America