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Definition of smallmouth bass
smallmouth bass
Plural:smallmouth bass
smallmouth bass Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
7
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American A popular freshwater game fish native to the eastern and central river basins of North America, distinguished by its bronze coloration, dark vertical bands, and an upper jaw that does not extend beyond the eye.
Example
"The angler spent a peaceful Saturday morning on the lake casting near rocky drop-offs in hopes of catching a large smallmouth bass."
Word Nuance & Usage
It is frequently compared to the largemouth bass; the primary physical distinction is that the smallmouth's upper jaw does not extend past its eye.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name references its relatively small mouth compared to its close relative, the largemouth bass. The word 'bass' derives from Middle English 'bas', meaning perch or bass.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Smallmouth bass. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/smallmouth bass