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Definition of lanternfish

lanternfish

/ˈlæn.tɚn.fɪʃ/
lan · tern · fish
Plural:lanternfishes
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lanternfish Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Any of numerous small, deep-sea fishes of the family Myctophidae, found in oceans worldwide and characterized by rows of bioluminescent light-producing organs along their bodies.

Example

"During the deep-water dive, the submersible's cameras captured a glowing lanternfish illuminating the dark, abyssal zone."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for lanternfish

• Nearby Words

lansing
lantana
lantern
lanternfish
lanx
lanyard
lanzones

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of the words 'lantern' and 'fish', named for the bioluminescent organs (photophores) along their bodies that emit light in the deep ocean, resembling miniature glowing lanterns.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Lanternfish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 6, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lanternfish
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