# minnow

/ˈmɪnoʊ/ (US) · /mˈɪnəʊ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/minnow
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

a very small freshwater fish. You also use it for a small person, team, or company next to much bigger competitors.

For teachers: a small freshwater fish of the carp family, often used as bait. Extended metaphorically to a small or comparatively insignificant person or organization in a competitive field.

## Examples

- Small minnows swim near the edge of the pond.
- The startup remained a minnow beside tech giants, struggling to win contracts against firms with far larger budgets.
- In a market dominated by multinational banks, the regional lender was a minnow whose survival depended on personal service rather than scale.

## Synonyms

underdog, tiddler

## Antonyms

shark, giant, heavyweight

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.