dragnet
Americannoun
-
a net to be drawn along the bottom of a river, pond, etc., or along the ground, to catch fish, small game, etc.
-
a system or network for finding or catching someone, as a criminal wanted by the police.
noun
-
a heavy or weighted net used to scour the bottom of a pond, river, etc, as when searching for something
-
any system of coordinated efforts by police forces to track down wanted persons
Etymology
Origin of dragnet
Middle English word dating back to 1535–45; see origin at drag, net 1, dray
Explanation
If you suddenly start noticing police officers around every corner, you might be watching a dragnet in progress. A dragnet is a coordinated attempt to catch a criminal. Dragnet originally referred to a kind of net for catching fish. It can now also indicate a less literal type of net: one that catches crooks. Police may use a dragnet if they know a wanted criminal is in a certain neighborhood. When cops set up a dragnet, they may call in extra officers, fence off areas from civilians, and arm themselves heavily. This word became famous because of the TV show Dragnet, which featured Sergeant Joe Friday.
Vocabulary lists containing dragnet
Chasing Lincoln's Killer
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Spies
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Mona Lisa Vanishes
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Paddick and her children, Sid and Minnie, are among thousands of Hampshire residents caught up in the dragnet, which has pulled in drone pilots, schoolchildren and the local airport.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
But it abandoned the strategy because its legal dragnet swept up sympathetic targets such as single mothers and teenage girls, creating a public relations disaster.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026
Historically, dragnet surveillance was difficult because searching large numbers of people required enormous time and labor.
From Slate ● May 20, 2026
Many caught in the dragnet were later declared innocent.
From Barron's ● Apr. 24, 2026
The resulting “interviews” of passengers in these dragnet operations usually culminate in a request for “consent” to search the passenger’s luggage.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
