fisherman

fisherman — noun

1. A fisherman catches fish for money or enjoyment, often working from a boat or al

1.nounA2
Definition

A fisherman catches fish for money or enjoyment, often working from a boat or along the shore.

Example

Ilan's grandfather was a fisherman who worked on the same boat for thirty years.

The local fishermen taught Karim how to cast a net from their small wooden boat.

collocation: cast a net

Common collocations
  • commercial fisherman
  • local fisherman
  • experienced fisherman
  • fisherman's boat
  • fisherman's net
Synonyms
  • angler

    Refers specifically to someone who fishes with a rod as a hobby or sport, not for a living

  • fisher

    A rare, literary, or formal alternative; sometimes used as a gender-neutral term

Usage Note

The plural form 'fishermen' is very common when referring to the profession or a group of people who fish.

Common Mistakes

His uncle is an experienced fisher.
His uncle is an experienced fisherman.
'Fisher' is rare in everyday English; 'fisherman' is the standard term for a person who catches fish.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Fisherman' is the everyday term for anyone who catches fish, whether for work or for fun. 'Angler' refers specifically to a person who fishes with a rod and line as a sport or hobby — you would not call a commercial fishing-boat worker an angler. 'Fisher' is much rarer and mostly appears in formal, literary, or technical writing (e.g. 'the fishers of the North Atlantic'); some writers use it as a gender-neutral alternative to 'fisherman'. In ordinary conversation, 'fisherman' is the natural choice. For example: 'The fishermen pulled in their nets at sunrise' sounds natural, while 'The fishers pulled in their nets' sounds archaic or academic.

fisherman ↗anglerfisher

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

A combination of 'fisher' (from Old English 'fiscere', meaning a person who catches fish) and 'man' (from Old English 'mann', meaning a person or human being). The compound 'fisherman' emerged in Middle English and gradually became the standard term, replacing the simpler 'fisher' in most everyday contexts.