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fisherman

American  
[fish-er-muhn] / ˈfɪʃ ər mən /

noun

plural

fishermen

  1. a person who fishes, whether for profit or pleasure.

  2. a ship used in fishing.

adjective

  1. Knitting. Also fisherman's of, relating to, or designating a knitting pattern consisting primarily of cable-stitches executed in a characteristically thick, traditionally off-white yarn, or a garment made in this pattern and yarn.

    a fisherman sweater.
fisherman British  
/ ˈfɪʃəmən /

noun

  1. a person who fishes as a profession or for sport

  2. a vessel used for fishing

"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

Other Word Forms

  • nonfisherman noun

Etymology

Origin of fisherman

1400–50; late Middle English fissherman; fisher, -man

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.

Don’t miss: ‘We’re living the simple life’: I was a fisherman and my wife was a nurse.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

The phenomenon was first observed by Peruvian fisherman in the 1600s, who noticed that warm waters seemed to peak near the Americas in December.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

Mustafa, 27, an Afghan fisherman who had fled Iran, interviewed at the Silk Bridge border post in Afghanistan:

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

The death of Alaska fisherman Phil Harris, of ‘Deadliest Catch,’ is met with tributes.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

“First, you gotta pay the fisherman for his fuel and his time. Then, you gotta pay the spotter to find the shark.”

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

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.