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angler

ANG-gler /ˈæŋɡlər/

nounB2SATIELTS

neutralliterary

A person who fishes with a rod, hook, and line, especially for recreation or sport.

Unlike 'fisherman,' which can refer to commercial workers using nets or trawlers, 'angler' specifically denotes someone practicing the sport of angling, emphasizing the individual skill, patience, and recreational nature of the activity.

The story behind the word. The word 'angler' traces back to the Old English word 'angel,' which meant a hook. This is the very same root that gives us the geometric term 'angle' (a corner or bend). Therefore, when you call someone an angler, you are literally calling them a 'hooker' in the most innocent, historical sense—someone who bends their efforts toward catching fish with a curved piece of metal.

Word relationships

fisherman: 'Fisherman' is a broader term that includes commercial workers, whereas 'angler' strictly implies the use of a hook and line for sport.
piscator: An archaic, highly literary term for a fisherman, rarely used outside of historical or poetic contexts.

Commonly confused with

trawler: A trawler is a commercial fishing vessel that uses large nets, whereas an angler is an individual using a rod and line.

Word family

angle (verb): To fish with a hook and line.
angling (noun): The sport or pastime of fishing with a rod and line.

Collocations

avid angler
seasoned angler
fly angler
recreational angler

Example sentences

"No life, my honest Scholar, no life so happy and so pleasant as the life of a well-governed angler." From a classic work of literature on the joy of fishing. (Izaak Walton, The Compleat Angler (1653))
"The solitary angler stood motionless in the morning mist, waiting for the trout to rise." Describing a quiet morning scene by the riverbank.

Memory hook

Think of an ANGLER sitting at a sharp ANGLE on the riverbank, holding a rod that bends at an ANGLE. An angler angles their rod to catch a fish.

When not to use

Do not use 'angler' when referring to commercial fishing crews on large industrial vessels; use 'fisherman' or 'commercial fisher' instead.

Fun facts

The deep-sea anglerfish is named after human anglers because it uses a glowing, fleshy growth on its head as a built-in lure to entice smaller fish.

Related words

cast, reel, tackle

Explore more words

recreational, amateur, artisan, overfish, overfishing, wayfarer