# dragnet

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈdɹæɡˌnɛt/ · frequency rank #54,134

## Definitions
1. A net dragged across the bottom of a body of water.
2. A heightened effort by law enforcement personnel undertaken in order to capture suspects.

## Etymology
From drag + net, probably based on the model of Middle English draynet, dreynett (“dragnet”), Old English dræġnet, dræġnett (“dragnet”), equivalent to dray + net. Cognate with Swedish dragnät, Norwegian dragnett, from Icelandic dragnet.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/dragnet