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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

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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.

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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

Rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species, but with different lifestyles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026

Fish and Wildlife Service’s military conservation partner of the year for its efforts to support the recovery of several species, including the tidewater goby, coastal California gnatcatcher, the arroyo toad and southern California steelhead.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2025

In a past life, steelhead trout and coho salmon thrived in this stream.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2025

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

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Twice, he and Bill maneuvered leaping steelheads into nets.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 29, 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

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