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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 notes

In 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

Word forms

filleted past tense, fillets plural, fillets singular

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The chef served a grilled salmon _____ with lemon butter.

Etymology

From Old French filet, a diminutive of fil ("thread"), from Latin filum.

Origin: Latin

stopping filet tenia taenia lemniscus fish filet fish fillet

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.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial