variants or less commonly filet
Synonyms of filletnext
1
: a ribbon or narrow strip of material used especially as a headband
2
a
: a thin narrow strip of material
b
: a piece or slice of boneless meat or fish
especially : the tenderloin of beef
3
a
: a concave junction formed where two surfaces meet (as at an angle)
b
: a strip that gives a rounded appearance to such a junction
also : a strip to reinforce the corner where two surfaces meet
4
: a narrow flat architectural member:
a
: a flat molding separating others
b
: the space between two flutings (see flute entry 1 sense 3) in a shaft
filleted; filleting; fillets

transitive verb

1
: to bind, furnish, or adorn with or as if with a fillet
2
: to cut into fillets

Examples of fillet in a Sentence

Noun a juicy fillet of beef Verb He carefully filleted the fish with a sharp knife.
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.
Noun
Place a halibut fillet in the center of each bowl and spoon the warm broth around it. Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 8 June 2026 Note that individual fillets will cook faster than a single large piece. Emily Weinstein, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026
Verb
Coat fillets all over with 3 Tbsp. Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 June 2026 His other job, starting at age seven, was to fillet the catch. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for fillet

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English filet, from Anglo-French, diminutive of fil thread, from Latin filum — more at file

Verb

derivative of fillet entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fillet was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fillet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fillet. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

variants also filet
: a piece or slice of boneless meat or fish

fillet

2 of 2 verb
: to cut into fillets

Medical Definition

: a band of anatomical fibers
specifically : lemniscus

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