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Definition of spearfishing

spearfishing

/ˈspɪrˌfɪʃ.ɪŋ/
spear · fish · ing
Past Simple:spearfished
•
Past Participle:spearfished
•
Present Participle:spearfishing
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spearfishing Lexical Profile

spearfishing Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The activity or sport of hunting and catching fish using a handheld spear, harpoon, or specialized pneumatic or elastic-powered speargun, typically practiced while freediving or snorkeling.

Example

"Coastal conservation laws strictly regulate spearfishing to protect vulnerable reef species from overharvesting."

• verb

1

To hunt or catch fish using a spear, harpoon, or speargun (present participle of spearfish).

Example

"They spent the morning spearfishing in the clear waters along the rocky peninsula."

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'spearfishing' (the aquatic hunting activity) with 'spear phishing' (normally written as two words or hyphenated), which refers to a targeted cybersecurity scam via fraudulent emails.

• Nearby Words

spear
spearer
spearfish
spearfishing
speargun
spearhead
spearlike

Cite this Entry

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