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Definition of mutton snapper
mutton snapper
Plural:mutton snappers
mutton snapper Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American A highly prized, brightly colored marine fish species (Lutjanus analis) belonging to the snapper family, native to the coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea, and highly valued for both commercial and sport fishing.
Example
"The charter boat captain anchored near a deep coral reef, hoping the anglers would hook a large mutton snapper for dinner."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for mutton snapperWord Origin & Etymology
The name combines 'mutton', an allusion to the historical colloquial naming of certain fish with firm, highly esteemed flesh, with 'snapper', the common name for the predatory fish family Lutjanidae, referencing their sharp teeth and quick snapping jaws.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mutton snapper. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mutton snapper