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Definition of killifish

killifish

/ˈkɪl.iˌfɪʃ/
Plural:killifish
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killifish Lexical Profile

killifish Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American A small, hardy fish commonly used as live bait by coastal anglers in North America.

Example

"We bought a bucket of killifish from the local tackle shop before heading out to catch flounder."

2

Any of numerous small, often brightly colored, oviparous fishes of the order Cyprinodontiformes, found in shallow fresh, brackish, or salt waters across the Americas, Africa, and Asia, and frequently kept in aquariums.

Example

"The biologist studied how the desert killifish manages to survive in isolated, highly saline pools."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for killifish

• Nearby Words

kikuzato brook snake
killdeer
killer whale
killifish
kiln
kilt
kimchi

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Dutch word 'kil', meaning a small stream or channel, combined with the English word 'fish', referring to their typical shallow-water habitats.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Killifish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/killifish
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