Synonyms

fishing rod

American

noun

a long, slender, cylindrical, flexible rod usually made of bamboo, steel, or fiberglass, for use with a reel and line in catching fish.

fishing rod British

noun

a long tapered flexible pole, often in jointed sections, for use with a fishing line and, usually, a reel

"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

Etymology

Origin of fishing rod

First recorded in 1545–55

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.

Among the photos in the website is one of his father holding a fishing rod after catching a fish.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

Estimated to fetch up to $500,000, it is being offered alongside Quint's Fenwick fishing rod and reel, which featured during the film's early shark encounter scenes.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

I'm probably watching Netflix or taking the fishing rod away if I can.

From BBC • Dec. 10, 2025

The Twins honored him with a donation to his foundation, a custom fishing rod, No. 24-branded fishing hat, a tackle box and a commemorative hockey stick.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 15, 2023

He’d left his most expensive fishing rod there, and he wanted to bring it home.

From "I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980" by Lauren Tarshis

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023