anadromous

adjective

anad·​ro·​mous ə-ˈna-drə-məs How to pronounce anadromous (audio)
: ascending rivers from the sea for breeding
shad are anadromous
compare catadromous

Examples of anadromous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The species is anadromous and spends part of its life in both salt and freshwater. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2025 Large numbers of huge anadromous brown trout move inshore each spring to feed on spawning smelt and alewives. — Tom Opre, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026 The anadromous fish are central to Native American cultures and economies, prized for their fat and protein-packed meat and loved by anglers for their tenacious, head-shaking fights. — oregonlive, 27 Aug. 2023 The first Chinook salmon was seen moving up past where the Iron Gate dam had stood within a few weeks of that dam coming down, after a century of anadromous fish unable to migrate past that point up to the headwaters. — Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for anadromous

Word History

Etymology

Greek anadromos running upward, from anadramein to run upward, from ana- + dramein to run — more at dromedary

First Known Use

circa 1753, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anadromous was circa 1753

Rhymes for anadromous

See All Rhymes for anadromous

Browse Nearby Words

anadiplosis
anadromous
Anadyr
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Anadromous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anadromous. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

anadromous

adjective
anad·​ro·​mous ə-ˈnad-rə-məs How to pronounce anadromous (audio)
: traveling up rivers from the sea to breed
anadromous shad and salmon
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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