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Definition of dragnet

dragnet

/ˈdræɡ.nɛt/
drag · net
Plural:dragnets
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dragnet Lexical Profile

dragnet Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A coordinated, systematic search or network of measures set up by law enforcement to apprehend suspects or criminals.

Example

"The police launched a citywide dragnet to locate the fugitives before they could cross the state border."

2

A weighted net drawn along the bottom of a river, lake, or sea to catch fish or dredge submerged objects.

Example

"The commercial crew hauled in a heavy dragnet teeming with bottom-dwelling flounder and cod."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for dragnet

• Nearby Words

drag
dragger
draggy
dragnet
dragon
dragon fruit
dragonet

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the late 14th century, the word combines Middle English 'draggen' (to pull along) and 'net', originally referring literally to a weighted fishing net before acquiring its figurative law-enforcement sense in the mid-19th century.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dragnet. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dragnet
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