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Definition of lancetfish
lancetfish
/ˈlæn.sɪtˌfɪʃ/
lan · cet · fish
Plural:lancetfishes
lancetfish Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• 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."
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 Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lancetfish