mermaid

American  

[mur-meyd] / ˈmɜrˌmeɪd /

noun

1. (in folklore) a female marine creature, having the head, torso, and arms of a woman and the tail of a fish.

2. a highly skilled female swimmer.

---

mermaid British  

/ ˈmɜːˌmeɪd /

noun

1. an imaginary sea creature fabled to have a woman's head and upper body and a fish's tail

---

mermaid Cultural  

1. A legendary marine creature with the head and torso of a woman and the tail of a fish; the masculine, less well-known equivalent is a merman. Though linked to the classical Sirens, mermaids may be nothing more than sailors' fanciful reports of the playful antics of dugongs or manatees.

---

Etymology

Origin of mermaid

First recorded in 1300–50, mermaid is from the Middle English word mermayde. See mere ², maid

Explanation

A mermaid is mythical sea creature that has the head and upper body of a woman and a tail of a fish. Mermaids appear in folklore from around the world, from the ancient Greek sirens who were said to lure sailors to a watery death, to the Mami Wata water spirits from African mythology. The Disney version of mermaids comes from the Hans Christian Andersen story "The Little Mermaid," about a mermaid who trades her life in the sea for love with a human. Mermaid means "maid of the sea," from mere, "sea" in Middle English.

Example Sentences

He said: "The Mermaid of Zennor was immortalised on a late medieval bench end in Zennor Church."

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

A spokesperson for Mermaid Quay confirmed it was exploring the possibility of a new plaque for Ianto once maintenance work had been completed.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

Inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale "The Little Mermaid," Miyazaki's story centers around a goldfish with a girl's face who is rescued by a five-year-old boy, Sosuke.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

Over the years, the Mermaid Comedy Hour has grown into a staple of L.A. comedy, offering a stage where women and nonbinary comedians can thrive.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2025

Mermaid clouds drifted over the glebe, over the cockerel tree, over the Malvern Hills.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

Related Words

• gnome
• goblin
• imp
• leprechaun