dragnet

noun

drag·​net ˈdrag-ˌnet 

1

a

: a net drawn along the bottom of a body of water

b

: a net used on the ground (as to capture small game)

2

: a network of measures for apprehension (as of criminals)

Examples of dragnet in a Sentence

Nine suspects were caught in the police dragnet.

Recent Examples on the Web

The landmark case is the first time the justices will consider whether the controversial practice of digital dragnets, which have grown in popularity among law enforcement with advances in technology, violate constitutional protections against unreasonable searches. —Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026

But civil libertarians are unnerved about casting such a wide dragnet that captures highly personal information from hundreds or perhaps thousands of people who aren’t criminals. —Bart Jansen, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026

Meanwhile, the costs of Florida’s dragnet are starting to emerge. —Mary Ellen Klas, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026

But in the south, militias backed by the United Arab Emirates launched anti-terrorism dragnets to root out militants from Al Qaeda, Islamic State or the Islah party, Yemen’s branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Rhymes for dragnet

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• beset
• brevet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette

Kids Definition

dragnet

noun

drag·​net ˈdrag-ˌnet 

1

: a net dragged along the bottom of a body of water

2

: a series of planned actions for catching a criminal