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Definition of cardinalfish

cardinalfish

/ˈkɑːrdɪnəlˌfɪʃ/
car · di · nal · fish
Plural:cardinalfishes
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cardinalfish Lexical Profile

cardinalfish Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of numerous small, predominantly nocturnal marine fishes of the family Apogonidae, typically characterized by large eyes and a reddish color, found commonly in tropical and subtropical coral reefs.

Example

"During our night dive, we spotted a bright red cardinalfish sheltering among the branches of the coral."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for cardinalfish

• Nearby Words

cardinal
cardinal flower
cardinal tetra
cardinalfish
cardoon
carex
carfax

Word Origin & Etymology

Named for their vivid red coloration, which resembles the traditional red vestments worn by Catholic cardinals, combined with 'fish'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cardinalfish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cardinalfish
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