bluegill

American  

[bloo-gil] / ˈbluˌgɪl /

noun

1. a freshwater sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus, of the Mississippi River valley, used for food.

---

bluegill British  

/ ˈbluːˌɡɪl /

noun

1. a common North American freshwater sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus : an important food and game fish

---

Etymology

Origin of bluegill

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; blue + gill ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bluegill

Fish species affected included largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, flathead catfish, and stocked species such as brown trout and rainbow trout.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 18, 2026

He said Beckstrom loved to hunt and fish for bass and bluegill and ride four-wheelers on trails through the mountains.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 29, 2025

The abrupt worsening of water quality caused a drop in the amount of oxygen in the water, killing fish including nonnative perch, bluegill and bass that had been introduced in the reservoirs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 21, 2024

After spending hours fishing in his little boat, Rouse said Bruesewitz would bring her filets of bluegill and pike.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 12, 2021

I even snagged my first fish, a tiny bluegill.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry