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Definition of lancetfish

lancetfish

/ˈlæn.sɪtˌfɪʃ/
lan · cet · fish
Plural:lancetfishes
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lancetfish Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A large, scaleless, deep-water predatory marine fish of the genus Alepisaurus, characterized by a highly elongated body, a large sail-like dorsal fin, and prominent dagger-like teeth, found globally in tropical and subtropical oceans.

Example

"Marine biologists were surprised to find a lancetfish, typically a deep-sea dweller, washed ashore on the Oregon coast."

• Nearby Words

lancer
lancers
lancet
lancetfish
land
land iguana
landed

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined from 'lancet' (a sharp, double-edged surgical knife) combined with 'fish', referencing the animal's large, sharply pointed, dagger-like teeth.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Lancetfish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lancetfish
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