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Definition of goatfish

goatfish

/ˈɡoʊt.fɪʃ/
goat · fish
Plural:goatfish
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goatfish Lexical Profile

goatfish Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of various marine perciform fishes of the family Mullidae, characterized by a pair of long, chemosensory barbels protruding from the chin used to probe the ocean floor for food, primarily found in tropical and subtropical reefs.

Example

"While snorkeling over the coral reef, we observed a yellow goatfish using its chin barbels to vigorously sift through the sand for small invertebrates."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for goatfish

• Nearby Words

goalpost
goanna
goat
goatfish
goatsbeard
goblet
goblin shark

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'goat' and 'fish', named for the pair of long, whisker-like barbels on the fish's lower jaw that resemble a goat's beard.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Goatfish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/goatfish
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