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Definition of driftfish

driftfish

/ˈdrɪftˌfɪʃ/
drift · fish
Plural:driftfishes
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driftfish Lexical Profile

driftfish Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of various marine fishes of the family Nomeidae, found in tropical and subtropical open oceans, distinguished by the habit of their juveniles to associate with floating objects or pelagic jellyfish (such as the Portuguese man o' war) for protection.

Example

"The marine biologist documented a juvenile driftfish safely navigating the deadly tentacles of a drifting jellyfish."

• Nearby Words

dress
dresser
dressing
driftfish
drill
drill press
drimia

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'drift' and 'fish', named for the characteristic behavior of the juveniles, which often shelter among drifting seaweeds, debris, or the tentacles of pelagic jellyfish.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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