Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

steelhead

American  
[steel-hed] / ˈstilˌhɛd /

noun

  • steelheads,
    plural
  • steelhead
    plural
  1. a silvery rainbow trout that migrates to the sea before returning to fresh water to spawn.


steelhead British  
/ ˈstiːlˌhɛd /

noun

  1. a silvery North Pacific variety of the rainbow trout ( Salmo gairdneri )

"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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of steelhead

First recorded in 1580–90; steel + head


Compare meaning

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


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.

See Examples For:

As the state has relied heavily on its water, native fish such as Chinook salmon, steelhead trout and longfin smelt have declined.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

In an accompanying statement, the groups argued the rule changes could immediately harm wildlife including Florida manatees, grizzly bears, salmon and steelhead fish, bird species like rufa red knots and golden-cheeked warblers, and insect pollinators.

From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026

Populations of Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, Delta smelt and other species have been declining.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 15, 2025

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife wrote that it is concerned about weakened protections for winter-run and spring-run chinook salmon, steelhead trout, delta smelt and longfin smelt.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 3, 2025

Soon salmon and steelhead and trout from the Dungeness made their way up the irrigation ditch and gathered in schools in the pond.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

Steelhead trout are the same species as rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, but unlike their freshwater-dwelling relatives, steelheads spend much of their lives feeding in the ocean and return to their natal streams to spawn.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2024

Southern California steelheads were once caught by Indigenous people.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2024

While tribal members can sell kings for $8 per pound, they do not sell steelheads, mainly just using them for food.

From New York Times ● Jun. 11, 2018

Living in his car and on boats, his entire existence hanging on the whim of silvery steelheads and the hatching pattern of mayflies.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 1, 2018

The clear tree-fringed lakes and rivers are filled with speckled trout and steelheads, pike and pickerel and whitefish.

From "The Incredible Journey" by Sheila Burnford

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember new words for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com