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Definition of flying fish
flying fish
Plural:flying fish
flying fish Lexical Profile
CEFR
B1
Grade
4
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
• noun
1
Any of various marine fishes of the family Exocoetidae, characterized by highly modified, elongated pectoral fins that enable them to leap out of the water and glide through the air to escape predators.
Example
"While sailing through the tropical waters of the Caribbean, we watched a school of flying fish leap from the waves and glide alongside the bow of the ship."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Named for their distinctive behavior of leaping out of the water and using their highly modified, wing-like pectoral fins to glide over the ocean's surface, simulating the appearance of flight.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Flying fish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/flying fish