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Definition of koi
koi
/kɔɪ/
koi
Plural:koi
koi Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
• noun
1
A brightly colored ornamental variety of the Amur carp (Cyprinus rubrofuscus), originally bred in Japan and commonly kept in outdoor decorative ponds or water gardens.
Example
"The botanical garden featured a tranquil meditation space overlooking a shallow pool filled with vibrant orange and white koi."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for koi• Rhymes for koi
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into English in the mid-20th century from Japanese 'koi' (鯉), meaning 'carp'. The ornamental breeding of the fish, known specifically in Japanese as 'nishikigoi' (brocaded carp), began in Niigata, Japan, in the early 19th century.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Koi. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/koi