angler

American  

[ang-gler] / ˈæŋ glər /

noun

anglers plural

1. a person who fishes with a hook and line.

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

3. 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.

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

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angler British  

/ ˈæŋɡlə /

noun

1. a person who fishes with a rod and line

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

3. 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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• anglers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of angler

First recorded in 1545–55; angle ² + -er ¹

Explanation

If you go fishing with a rod and a fishing line with a hook at the end of it, you're an angler. An angler might fish off the end of a dock, or from a rowboat in the middle of a lake. Anglers are distinguished by the fact that they fish with metal hooks, and they often release the fish they catch. You can also call one type of fish an angler, short for anglerfish, a big-headed, relatively small-bodied fish. Angler was originally a last name, and came to mean "fisherman" by about 1500, from the verb angle, "fish with a hook," from the Old English angel, which means "angle," but also "fishhook."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

angler anglers

When Weinberg talks about fly fishing, he speaks of it less as a single hobby than a constellation of interests, where each angler finds their own corner to obsess over.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026

"Being an angler for such a long time I knew a bit about the invertebrates, but this training has taken my knowledge to a new level."

From BBC ● May 26, 2026

“Given the 2-year ocean salmon fishery closure and the short duration of this fishing period, angler participation is expected to be high,” the department said in its announcement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2025

“I want America to disappear,” says angry angler Igor who’s fishing in a nearby pond.

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2024

The angler fish had recovered itself and was swimming in circles.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

Their findings will be used to update England Red List assessments and guidance for anglers to improve survival rates of sharks they release.

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026

The place: Scheduled to open in October in downtown Ketchum—the gateway to Sun Valley Resort—this 73-room property sits near the Big Wood River and Silver Creek, two blue-chip destinations for anglers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

But pike and walleye anglers may be in for a trophy-sized surprise.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 21, 2026

Quinn said: "The Ferry Bridge and surrounding area is very busy and well used by walkers, families, and anglers, it's not something anyone should have to come across."

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026

The doomed fish of Flint Creek included large numbers of white crappies, a favorite among anglers.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson