snapper

American  

[snap-er] / ˈsnæp ər /

noun

snappers plural, plural

1. any of several large marine food fishes of the family Lutjanidae.

2. any of various other fishes, as the bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix.

3. snapping turtle.

4. Informal. a person in charge of a group of workers.

5. a tuft or knot of cotton, horsehair, hemp, etc., at the tip of a whip's lash; cracker; popper.

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snapper British  

/ ˈsnæpə /

noun

1. any large sharp-toothed percoid food fish of the family Lutjanidae of warm and tropical coastal regions See also red snapper

2. a sparid food fish, Chrysophrys auratus, of Australia and New Zealand, that has a pinkish body covered with blue spots

3. another name for bluefish snapping turtle

4. a person or thing that snaps

5. informal a person who takes snapshots; photographer

6. informal a baby

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Etymology

Origin of snapper

First recorded in 1525–35; snap + -er ¹

Example Sentences

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

Abeta says the administration is also developing ocean farming of species like milkfish, snapper and sea cucumbers to support exports and domestic food security.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 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

“Okay, so that old snapper snapped me good, and I thought maybe I’d go after him and b-bring him b-back to my uncle’s place. He’d be a good trick to play on somebody’s b-bed.”

From "Mississippi Trial, 1955" by Chris Crowe

Related Words

• tortoise