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Definition of anglerfish

anglerfish

/ˈæŋ.ɡlɚ.fɪʃ/
ang · ler · fish
Plural:anglerfish
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anglerfish Lexical Profile

anglerfish Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of various marine teleost fishes of the order Lophiiformes, found in oceans worldwide and particularly noted for deep-sea species, characterized by a fleshy, often bioluminescent appendage on the head that acts as a lure to attract prey.

Example

"In the pitch-black depths of the abyssal zone, the female anglerfish uses her glowing lure to draw curious smaller fish straight into her massive jaws."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for anglerfish

• Nearby Words

angelica
angelonia
angelshark
anglerfish
angola
anguid
anhinga

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-18th century as a compound of 'angler' and 'fish', named for the fish's unique method of predation, which involves using a modified, often bioluminescent dorsal spine as a lure, resembling a person fishing with a rod.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Anglerfish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/anglerfish
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