barramundi

noun

bar·​ra·​mun·​di ˌber-ə-ˈmən-dē How to pronounce barramundi (audio)
ˌba-rə-
plural barramundi also barramundis
: a catadromous bony fish (Lates calcarifer of the family Latidae) with a greenish-bronze back and silvery sides that is found from the Persian Gulf to southern China and Australia and is valued as a sport and food fish

Examples of barramundi 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.
He was last seen wearing black shorts and a blue fishing shirt showing an image of a barramundi. — Escher Walcott, People.com, 8 Feb. 2025 The Restaurant emphasizes fresh fish, like Australian barramundi. — Janice Wald Henderson, Travel + Leisure, 23 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

perhaps borrowed from an indigenous language of inland central Queensland, Australia

Note: According to R. M. W. Dixon, et al., Australian Aboriginal Words in English: Their Origin and Meaning, 2nd edition (Oxford University Press, 2006), "Said to be from a language spoken around the Dawson and Fitzroy Rivers, central Queensland; however, it has not been possible to confirm this from data available on languages of this region" (p. 90).

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of barramundi was in 1864

Browse Nearby Words

barragudo
barramundi
barranca
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Barramundi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barramundi. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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