snapper

American  

[snap-er] / ˈsnæp ər /

noun

plural

snapper,

plural

snappers, snappers

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

On the lunch menu: red snapper the captain caught that morning.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

Mistake-prone special teams: Blocked kicks led to multiple early-season defeats, and the Rams in November signed Harrison Mevis to replace Joshua Karty and veteran snapper Jake McQuaide to replace Alex Ward.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

The Rams also appear to be benefiting from experienced snapper Jake McQuaide, who replaced Alex Ward.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 28, 2025

When I was 13, my mom and I went to eat snapper soup at Bookbinder’s in Philadelphia.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 18, 2025

I gave her a nice mangrove snapper that I caught, and she had it cleaned and cooking over the flames in five minutes flat.

From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen

Related Words

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