red snapper

American  

noun

red snappers plural

1. any of several snappers of the genus Lutjanus, especially L. campechanus, a large food fish of the Gulf of Mexico.

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red snapper British  

noun

1. any of various marine percoid food fishes of the genus Lutjanus , esp L. blackfordi , having a reddish coloration, common in American coastal regions of the Atlantic: family Lutjanidae (snappers)

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• red snappers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of red snapper

An Americanism dating back to 1765–75

Compare meaning

How does red-snapper compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• redfish vs. red snapper

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

red snapper

Then she released a song called Mad Woman, whose video required her to hit Heated Rivalry actor Hudson Williams square in the face with a red snapper.

From BBC ● May 2, 2026

Chicago-based John’s Food and Wine, which serves a $52 red snapper and an $83 steak, charges a 20% service fee across all orders, divided up among hourly staff.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 12, 2026

I love all the sushi — the halibut, the red snapper, the spicy yellowtail and the carpaccios.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 9, 2026

For instance, a cheap fish like tilapia may be given the name of a more expensive fish, like red snapper, or an endangered species might be passed off as a better-faring alternative.

From Salon ● Oct. 29, 2024

I miss spicy stewed chicken and red snapper seasoned to the bone.

From "American Street" by Ibi Zoboi