sturgeon

noun

stur·​geon ˈstər-jən How to pronounce sturgeon (audio)
: any of a family (Acipenseridae) of usually large elongated anadromous or freshwater bony fishes which are widely distributed in the north temperate zone and whose roe is made into caviar

Examples of sturgeon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This year's sturgeon moon and lunar eclipse will occur in Pisces, the 12th and final zodiac sign. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026 August’s full moon is often referred to as the Sturgeon Moon, which is a Native American name that reflects the time of year when the giant lake sturgeon are abundant in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 17 Aug. 2026 This factor has contributed to the extinction of species like the Chinese paddlefish and Yangtze sturgeon. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026 Stargazers in California can also catch glimpses of a partial lunar eclipse, planets and the sturgeon full moon. — Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sturgeon

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French estourgeoun, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English styria sturgeon

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sturgeon was in the 13th century

Rhymes for sturgeon

See All Rhymes for sturgeon

Browse Nearby Words

sturdy beggar
sturgeon
Sturgeon Bay
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sturgeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sturgeon. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

sturgeon

noun
stur·​geon ˈstər-jən How to pronounce sturgeon (audio)
: any of various usually large long-bodied fishes having a thick skin covered with rows of bony plates that are valued especially for their eggs which are made into caviar

More from Merriam-Webster on sturgeon

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sturgeon

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All