mermaid

noun

mer·​maid ˈmər-ˌmād How to pronounce mermaid (audio)
Synonyms of mermaid
: a fabled marine creature with the head and upper body of a woman and the tail of a fish

Examples of mermaid 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.
Her bodycon mermaid skirt was covered in diagonal rows of slits, exposing glimpses of her legs, hips, and butt. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 1 July 2026 In it, teenage best friends, Claire and Hailey (Levesque), discover a sassy mermaid named Aquamarine washed ashore after a storm. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 25 June 2026 For just a little while, let yourself get lost in the off-kilter world and fun details of the artworks, from the cat-eye glasses made out of forks on the waitress to the mermaid’s tail, made entirely from tin can tops. — Alissa Greenberg, Mercury News, 15 June 2026 Disney is diving into a series adaptation of the 2006 mermaid movie Aquamarine. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for mermaid

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mermayde, from mere sea (from Old English) + mayde maid — more at marine

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Rhymes for mermaid

See All Rhymes for mermaid

Browse Nearby Words

Merluccius
mermaid
mermaid's-hair
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

mermaid

noun
mer·​maid ˈmər-ˌmād How to pronounce mermaid (audio)
: an imaginary sea creature usually represented with a woman's body and a fish's tail
Etymology

Middle English mermayde "mermaid," from mere "lake, pool, sea" and mayde "maid"

More from Merriam-Webster on mermaid

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mermaid

Nglish: Translation of mermaid for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mermaid

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