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walleye

American  
[wawl-ahy] / ˈwɔl aɪ /

noun

  • walleyes,
    plural
  • walleye
    plural
  1. Also called walleyed pike, jack salmon. a large game fish, Stizostedion vitreum, inhabiting the lakes and rivers of northeastern North America; pikeperch.

  2. any of various other fishes having large, staring eyes.

  3. an eye characteristic of a walleyed person or animal.

  4. Military. Walleye, a series of television-guided bombs with high-explosive warheads, in production since the 1960s.


walleye British  
/ ˈwɔːlˌaɪ /

noun

  1. a divergent squint

  2. opacity of the cornea

  3. an eye having a white or light-coloured iris

  4. (in some collies) an eye that is particoloured white and blue

  5. Also called: walleyed pike. a North American pikeperch, Stizostedion vitreum, valued as a food and game fish

  6. any of various other fishes having large staring eyes

"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

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns


Etymology

Origin of walleye

First recorded in 1515–25; back formation from walleyed


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:

We believe that’s because walleye, for example, have a specialized retina that helps them see in browner waters with poorer visibility.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 21, 2026

The big worry now is that the carp are migrating closer to the Great Lakes, where they could endanger the walleye, bass and trout that support the region’s $5 billion fishing industry.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 8, 2026

Fish fry features regionally appropriate walleye, the mild flesh encased in a Ritz-cracker crust that behaves like a darker version of panko.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 22, 2023

A 14-year-old Minnesota boy was out fishing for walleye on the state’s Lake of the Woods when he dredged up something else — a wallet containing $2,000 in wet, mossy cash.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 23, 2023

I brought some fish, mostly good-sized walleye, back to camp, I was the only one to bring in any fish, but they spun it differently.

From "Life Is So Good" by George Dawson

The sky was blue and the waters flat and calm, perfect conditions for them to explore the shallows of the bay and look for walleyes, large-eyed game fish common in Lake Michigan.

From New York Times ● Dec. 18, 2023

She had two walleyes hanging by their lips over a fire outdoors, and a pile of chores to do before they left the next day.

From New York Times ● Jan. 21, 2020

Starting Sept. 6 at 12:01 a.m. anglers can’t legally target walleyes on Mille Lacs, but may fish for other species.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 26, 2019

“The ones that we take today are going to impact the production of walleyes next year.”

From Washington Times ● Aug. 5, 2015

Desborough was a stout, bull-necked man, of middle-size, with heavy vulgar features, grizzled bushy eyebrows, and walleyes.

From Woodstock; or, the Cavalier by Sir Walter Scott

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