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Definition of mermaid

mermaid

/ˈmɜːrˌmeɪd/
mer · maid
Plural:mermaids
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mermaid Lexical Profile

mermaid Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A legendary aquatic creature depicted with the head and upper body of a human female and the tail of a fish.

Example

"The sailors shared tales of a beautiful mermaid who would sit on the ocean rocks and sing to passing ships."

2

A woman who is a skilled swimmer, especially one who performs in aquatic shows or synchronized swimming.

Example

"After winning three gold medals, the local press affectionately dubbed her the city's reigning mermaid."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for mermaid
Antonyms
View all antonyms for mermaid

• Nearby Words

meritorious
merlin
merlot
mermaid
merman
merperson
merrily

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'mermayde', a compound of 'mer' (from Old English 'mere', meaning sea or lake) and 'maid' (meaning girl or young woman).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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