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Definition of sockeye salmon
sockeye salmon
Plural:sockeye salmon
sockeye salmon Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American An anadromous species of salmon native to the Northern Pacific Ocean and connected river systems, highly valued for its firm, flavorful meat and recognized by its distinct bright red body and green head during the spawning phase.
Example
"Every summer, thousands of sockeye salmon embark on a grueling migration upstream to reach their ancestral spawning grounds in Alaska."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for sockeye salmonWord Origin & Etymology
The word 'sockeye' is a phonetic Anglicization of the Halkomelem word 'suk-kegh' (sθə́qəy̓), meaning 'red fish', originating from the indigenous Coast Salish peoples of British Columbia. 'Salmon' derives from the Latin 'salmo'.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Sockeye salmon. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/sockeye salmon