Definition

A mythical creature that has the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a fish, often found in stories and folklore.

Example

In the story, the mermaid saved the sailor from drowning.

Conversation

Have you ever heard the story of the mermaid who saved a sailor?

Yeah, I love those kinds of legends! They’re so magical.

I always imagined what it would be like to meet a mermaid in real life.

That would be amazing! I wonder what they would say to us.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Mermaid → The word is formed from "mere" (from Old English *mearc*, meaning sea or lake) and "maid" (from Old English *mægden*, meaning young woman or girl). A mermaid is thus a young woman of the sea.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'young woman' ('maid') who lives in the 'sea' ('mere') — that’s why a mermaid is a mythical creature that is part woman and part fish.

Visually Confused Words