eel

American  

[eel] / il /

noun

plural

eel,

plural

eels

1. any of numerous elongated, snakelike marine or freshwater fishes of the order Apodes, having no ventral fins.

2. any of several similar but unrelated fishes, as the lamprey.

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eel British  

/ iːl /

noun

1. any teleost fish of the order Apodes (or Anguilliformes ), such as the European freshwater species Anguilla anguilla, having a long snakelike body, a smooth slimy skin, and reduced fins

2. any of various other animals with a long body and smooth skin, such as the mud eel and the electric eel

3. an evasive or untrustworthy person

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eel Idioms  

1. see slippery as an eel.

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Other Word Forms

• eel-like adjective
• eellike adjective
• eely adjective

Etymology

Origin of eel

before 1000; Middle English ele, Old English ēl, ǣl; cognate with Dutch aal, German Aal, Old Norse āll

Explanation

An eel is a fish that's so long and skinny it resembles a snake. Most eels live in very shallow ocean waters, burrowing into the sand there. Eels are a type of fish, and though they are as long and flexible as snakes, they don't have scales, and if you look closely you can see they have a long, low fin. Eels are famous for being slippery, and in fact to be "as slippery as an eel" means to be so sneaky and cunning that you can get away with something illegal or illicit. This figurative meaning dates from the 16th century.

Example Sentences

"We've had a missed opportunity this morning, but then the fact that everyone's talking about eel, that's a huge victory too," Kerr said.

From Barron's • Nov. 27, 2025

The proposal had been fiercely opposed by top eel consumers, particularly Japan, but also failed to win backing from countries worried about new trade regulations.

From Barron's • Nov. 27, 2025

"Every eel we eat comes from the wild, making them vulnerable to overfishing and illegal trade," the EU's representative warned.

From Barron's • Nov. 27, 2025

But now several countries want to add other eel species to Appendix II.

From Barron's • Nov. 24, 2025

Still clinging to the tapestry, Shadow wriggled like an eel.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques