What does "mermaid" mean?
A mythological creature with a woman's head and upper body, and a tail of a fish.
Mermaid
/ˈmɝ.meɪd/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A mythological creature with a woman's head and upper body, and a tail of a fish.
- Grammar: mermaid is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: bather, bathing beauty, bathing girl, davy.
- Useful contrasts: earthbound being, inland symbol, land dweller.
- Usage evidence: The legend says that she was a mermaid.
How to use "mermaid"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "mermaid" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "mermaid" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "mermaid" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "mermaid" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "mermaid" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "bather" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "mermaid", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A mythological creature with a woman's head and upper body, and a tail of a fish.
"Search the depth, & ſee that variety of Sea monſters & fiſhes, Mare-maids, Sea men, Horſes, &c. which it affords."
- 2 half woman and half fish; lives in the sea wordnet
- 3 Coloured a brilliant turquoise.
"a mermaid smoothie"
- 4 A prostitute. obsolete
"A Gentleman or an honeſt Cittizen, ſhall not Sit in your pennie-bench Theaters, vvith his Squirrell by his ſide cracking nuttes; nor ſneake into a Tauerne vvith his Mermaid; but he ſhall be Satyr'd and Epigram'd vpon, and his humour muſt run vpo'th Stage: […]"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
earthbound beinginland symbolland dwellerland emblem
Example
"The legend says that she was a mermaid."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "mermaid"?
Common synonyms include: bather, bathing beauty, bathing girl, davy, davy jones, deity.
How do you use "mermaid" in a sentence?
The legend says that she was a mermaid.
How do you pronounce "mermaid"?
Pronounced /ˈmɝ.meɪd/.
Etymology
From Middle English mermayde (“maid of the sea”), from mere (“sea, lake”) + maid, equivalent to mer- + maid. Cognate with Dutch meermeid (“mermaid”), Middle High German mermaget, mermeit (“mermaid”, > German Meermagd, Meermädchen (“mermaid”)). Compare Old English meremenn, meremennen, meremenin (“mermaid, siren”).