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Definition of lanternfish
lanternfish
/ˈlæn.tɚn.fɪʃ/
lan · tern · fish
Plural:lanternfishes
lanternfish Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• 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 lanternfishWord 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 Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lanternfish