fisherman
gb/fˈɪʃɚmən/ us/fˈɪʃɚmən/
A2
English
~ 8000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
person who catches fish
A person who catches fish, for work or for fun.
Usage pattern:
[a/an/the] fisherman [verb]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes pluralize "fisherman" as *fishermans* instead of the correct irregular plural *fishermen*. Another confusion is between "fisher" and "fisherman": in everyday modern English, "fisherman" is still more common for a single person, while "fisher" is more formal or used when emphasizing gender neutrality. Also, some learners think it can mean a person who sells fish, but the usual word for that is "fishmonger" in British English or simply "fish seller".
Synonyms
angler (Usually refers to someone who fishes with a rod and line, especially as a hobby, and sounds slightly more technical or hobby-focused.)
|
fisher (A more gender-neutral word used in some varieties of English; less common in everyday speech and can also refer to an animal species in North America.)
|
fisherwoman (Specifically refers to a female person who catches fish; used when gender is important to mention.)
|
fisherfolk (Refers to a group or community of people who fish, often with a slightly literary or traditional tone.)
Antonyms
landlubber (Informal word for someone who is not used to the sea or boats, often contrasted humorously with sailors or people like fishermen who work on the water.)
Collocations
commercial fisherman
|recreational fisherman
|local fisherman
|professional fisherman
|fly fisherman
|sport fisherman
Themes
work
|nature
|hobbies
|food
|animals
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The fisherman cast his line into the river and waited patiently.
- Local fishermen are worried about the new fishing limits.
- She works as a commercial fisherman on a large trawler.
- A lone fisherman stood on the pier at sunrise.
- Many coastal towns depend on fishermen for their income.
Learner examples
- The fisherman sits in a small boat.
- Two fishermen are on the lake today.
- My uncle is a fisherman, and he sells fish in the market.
- We saw a fisherman catch a very big fish.
- Many fishermen leave early in the morning.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fisherman
IPA
GB/fˈɪʃɚmən/
US/fˈɪʃɚmən/
Syllables & stress
fish - er - man (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (fish)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: fisherman
- Plural: fishermen
Word family
Expressions
commercial fisherman
1/kəmˈɚʃəl fˈɪʃɚmən/
fixed phrase
fisherman who fishes for income
A fisherman who catches fish as a job to sell them and make money.
Examples
- Many commercial fishermen are concerned about declining fish stocks.
- He worked as a commercial fisherman for twenty years before retiring.
- The town depends on commercial fishermen and tourism for its economy.
fly fisherman
1/flˈaɪ fˈɪʃɚmən/
fixed phrase
person who practices fly-fishing
A fisherman who uses special light rods and artificial flies to catch fish, usually in rivers.
Examples
- A fly fisherman stood in the middle of the stream, casting his line upstream.
- This region is famous among fly fishermen for its trout.
- He became an expert fly fisherman after years of practice.
recreational fisherman
1/ɹˌɛkɹiˈeɪʃənəl fˈɪʃɚmən/
fixed phrase
person who fishes for fun
A fisherman who catches fish for fun in free time, not as a job.
Examples
- The river is popular with recreational fishermen during the summer.
- Recreational fishermen must still follow the local fishing rules.
- As a recreational fisherman, he releases most of the fish he catches.
sport fisherman
1/spˈɔɹt fˈɪʃɚmən/
fixed phrase
fisherman focused on sport fishing
A fisherman who catches fish as a sport or hobby, sometimes in tournaments, usually not to sell them.
Examples
- Sport fishermen often release the fish they catch back into the water.
- The lake attracts many sport fishermen each weekend.
- Regulations for sport fishermen are different from those for commercial boats.