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Definition of archerfish

archerfish

/ˈɑːr.tʃɚˌfɪʃ/
ar · cher · fish

Plural:archerfish
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archerfish Lexical Profile

archerfish Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of several tropical and brackish-water fishes of the family Toxotidae, native to Asia and Oceania, known for their unique ability to accurately shoot down insect prey resting on overhanging foliage with a precisely aimed jet of water from their mouths.

Example

"At the aquarium, the children watched in amazement as the archerfish accurately struck a cricket suspended above its tank with a rapid spit of water."

Word Origin & Etymology

Named for their hunting method of 'shooting' prey with a stream of water, likening their precision to that of a human archer firing an arrow.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


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