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Definition of goldfish
goldfish
/ˈɡoʊld.fɪʃ/
gold · fish
Plural:goldfish
goldfish Lexical Profile
CEFR
A2
Grade
2
Tier
1
Usage
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• noun
1
A small, commonly kept freshwater aquarium fish belonging to the carp family, originally domesticated in East Asia and selectively bred for its bright orange, red, or gold coloration.
Example
"The children were fascinated by the bright orange goldfish swimming in the glass bowl."
2
North American A popular brand of small, fish-shaped cheese crackers commonly eaten as a snack.
Example
"She packed a handful of goldfish in her toddler's lunchbox for an afternoon snack."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for goldfish• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in English in the late 17th century as a compound of 'gold' and 'fish', describing its typical metallic orange-gold coloration. The species was originally domesticated in ancient China from the Prussian carp.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Goldfish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/goldfish