angler

[ ang-gler ]

/ ˈæŋ glər /

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noun

a person who fishes with a hook and line.

a person who gets or tries to get something through scheming.

Also called allmouth, anglerfish, goosefish, lotte, monkfish. any large pediculate fish of the family Lophiidae, especially Lophius americanus, found along the Atlantic coast of America, having an immense mouth and a large, depressed head to which is attached a wormlike filament for luring prey.

Also called anglerfish. any of various related fishes of the order Lophiiformes.

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Origin of angler

First recorded in 1545–55; angle² + -er¹

Words nearby angler

angle of slide, angle of view, angle of yaw, angle plate, anglepod, angler, anglerfish, Anglesey, angle shot, anglesite, anglesmith

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use angler in a sentence

The Slough is catch-and-release and anglers’ must use barbless flies.
In Big Sky country, a pandemic-era fly-fishing getaway|Carl Fincke|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
There has been a long-fought battle over the proposed mine, with both sport anglers and commercial fishers opposing the project.
North America’s biggest salmon run may no longer be in danger|By Alex Robinson/Outdoor Life|November 30, 2020|Popular-Science
You can’t practice retrieving such a recent memory for the same reason an angler can’t reel in a trout that’s already lying at their feet — when it’s so close at hand, there’s no meaningful retrieval left to be done.
Cramming may help for next-day exams. But for long-term memory, spacing out study is what works.|Sanjay Sarma, Luke Yoquinto|November 30, 2020|Washington Post
Local knowledge is key, since often some of the best edibles along our coasts are largely overlooked by even seasoned anglers.
14 wild edibles you can pull right out of the ocean|By Bob McNally/Field & Stream|October 19, 2020|Popular-Science

The bounty of the marine and brackish water environment is astounding, with delicious meals made available from foraging a staggering variety of natural items, often ignored by anglers focused on just catching fish.
14 wild edibles you can pull right out of the ocean|By Bob McNally/Field & Stream|October 19, 2020|Popular-Science
That story can be found on pp. 195-196 of Barton Gellman's to-date definitive study of the Cheney vice presidency, Angler.
Cheney in History|David Frum|March 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Theory may be very good, but practice is much better, and will only make the complete angler.
The Teesdale Angler|R Lakeland
Independent of the varied attractions of nature, the early rising angler always has the best Summer sport.
The Teesdale Angler|R Lakeland
But Colin had the makings of an angler in him and he was able instinctively to judge the amount of pressure that was needed.
The Boy With the U. S. Fisheries|Francis Rolt-Wheeler
The water-cow has not lately emerged from Alemoor to attack the casual angler.
Angling Sketches|Andrew Lang
I had a friend once, an angler, who in winter was fond of another sport.
Angling Sketches|Andrew Lang

British Dictionary definitions for angler

angler

/ (ˈæŋɡlə) /

noun

a person who fishes with a rod and line

informal a person who schemes or uses devious methods to secure an advantage

Also called: angler fish any spiny-finned fish of the order Pediculati (or Lophiiformes). They live at the bottom of the sea and typically have a long spiny movable dorsal fin with which they lure their prey

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012