noun
fillet
FIHL-iht
Fillet (noun) means a boneless strip or piece of meat or fish. Example: “The chef served a grilled salmon fillet with lemon butter.”
noun
1
A boneless strip or piece of meat or fish.
"The chef served a grilled salmon fillet with lemon butter."
"She trimmed the chicken breast into thin fillets."
2
A narrow band or strip used decoratively or to tie back the hair.
"She wore a golden fillet in her hair for the ceremony."
verb
1
To slice meat or fish into boneless strips, or remove the bones from it.
"The fishmonger filleted the trout in under a minute."
How to use fillet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often a boneless cut of meat or fish, though it can also mean a decorative strip or band.
UK vs US
In the UK, the meat cut is usually spelled "fillet"; American English commonly uses "filet" (as in filet mignon), especially in cooking contexts.
Common pairings
fillet steak
fish fillet
fillet of salmon
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Word forms
- Plural
- fillets
- Third person singular
- fillets
- Past tense
- filleted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The chef served a grilled salmon _____ with lemon butter.
Etymology
From Old French filet, a diminutive of fil ("thread"), from Latin filum.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for fillet
See all rhymes for fillet →Frequently asked questions
What does “fillet” mean?
The word “fillet” means a boneless strip or piece of meat or fish. In plain terms, most often a boneless cut of meat or fish, though it can also mean a decorative strip or band.
How do you pronounce “fillet”?
“Fillet” is pronounced FIHL-iht (/fɪˈleɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “fillet” in a sentence?
Here is “fillet” used in a sentence: “The chef served a grilled salmon fillet with lemon butter.”
What is the opposite of “fillet”?
The opposite of “fillet” — its antonyms — is round.
What part of speech is “fillet”?
Depending on how it is used, “fillet” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “fillet” come from?
The word “fillet” comes from Latin. From Old French filet, a diminutive of fil ("thread"), from Latin filum.
How many meanings does “fillet” have?
“Fillet” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a boneless strip or piece of meat or fish.
