minnow
noun
min·now ˈmi-(ˌ)nō 
plural minnows also minnow
1
a
: a small cyprinid, killifish, or topminnow
b
: any of various small fish that are less than a designated size and are not game fish
2
: a live or artificial minnow used as bait
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Adams, a marine ecologist with Washington Sea Grant who is part of a research group tracking green crabs’ spread in the state, cradled pairs of minnow and fukui traps in his hands as if carrying a football. 
Evan Bush, NBC News, 6 Sep. 2022 Total income-generating assets on its balance sheet barely broke the $400 million mark as of March according to SEC filings, a minnow in the world of high finance. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2022 In 1994, the U.S. government listed the minnow as endangered. Brittany Peterson And Suman Naishadham, USA TODAY, 26 July 2022 Habitat for the endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow went with it. Brittany Peterson And Suman Naishadham, USA TODAY, 26 July 2022 Although biologically a minnow, the humpback chub can reach 20 inches and 2.5 pounds. Brittany Peterson And John Flesher, USA TODAY, 15 June 2022 Although biologically a minnow, the humpback chub can reach 20 inches and 2.5 pounds. CBS News, 15 June 2022 Rite Aid, which was once the largest pharmacy chain in the country, is now just a minnow in the Big Pharmacy pond. Phil Wahba, Fortune, 14 June 2022 But an emerging threat becomes evident in early June as Friesen hauls up minnow traps and gillnets packed with carp, gizzard shad, green sunfish and, ominously, three smallmouth bass. Brittany Peterson And John Flesher, USA TODAY, 15 June 2022 See More
Evan Bush, NBC News, 6 Sep. 2022 Total income-generating assets on its balance sheet barely broke the $400 million mark as of March according to SEC filings, a minnow in the world of high finance. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2022 In 1994, the U.S. government listed the minnow as endangered. Brittany Peterson And Suman Naishadham, USA TODAY, 26 July 2022 Habitat for the endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow went with it. Brittany Peterson And Suman Naishadham, USA TODAY, 26 July 2022 Although biologically a minnow, the humpback chub can reach 20 inches and 2.5 pounds. Brittany Peterson And John Flesher, USA TODAY, 15 June 2022 Although biologically a minnow, the humpback chub can reach 20 inches and 2.5 pounds. CBS News, 15 June 2022 Rite Aid, which was once the largest pharmacy chain in the country, is now just a minnow in the Big Pharmacy pond. Phil Wahba, Fortune, 14 June 2022 But an emerging threat becomes evident in early June as Friesen hauls up minnow traps and gillnets packed with carp, gizzard shad, green sunfish and, ominously, three smallmouth bass. Brittany Peterson And John Flesher, USA TODAY, 15 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English menawe; akin to Old English myne minnow, Old High German munewa, a kind of fish
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
minnow
noun
min·now ˈmi-nō
1
: a small freshwater fish (as a shiner) related to the carp
2
: a fish that looks like a true minnow