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Definition of koi

koi

/kɔɪ/
koi
Plural:koi
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koi Lexical Profile

koi Game Scores & Validity

• 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

• Nearby Words

kohl
kohleria
kohlrabi
koi
kok river
kokako
kokanee

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 Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/koi
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