steelhead

American  

[steel-hed] / ˈstilˌhɛd /

noun

plural

steelheads,

plural

steelhead

1. a silvery rainbow trout that migrates to the sea before returning to fresh water to spawn.

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steelhead British  

/ ˈstiːlˌhɛd /

noun

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

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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:

• steelhead vs. trout

Example Sentences

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

Report cards also remain required for fishing steelhead, sturgeon or salmon in the Smith and Klamath-Trinity river systems as these species and waterways are closely monitored due to conservation concerns.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2025

Evans expects it will be about four years before Topanga Creek is ready to support steelhead again, based on his experience observing streams recover after the Thomas, Woolsey, Alisal and other fires.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2025

Wildlife officials feared critically endangered steelhead trout rescued from the Palisades fire burn scar might not be up for spawning after all they’d been through over the last few months.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2025

So were the young stages of several thousand steelhead trout and other species of trout.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson