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Definition of lionfish

lionfish

/ˈlaɪ.ənˌfɪʃ/
li · on · fish
Plural:lionfish
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lionfish Lexical Profile

lionfish Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of several species of brightly striped, venomous marine fish of the family Scorpaenidae, native to the Indo-Pacific region and characterized by elongated, fan-like fin rays; they have become a highly destructive invasive species in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

Example

"Scuba divers in the Caribbean are often encouraged to safely hunt the invasive lionfish to help protect native coral reef ecosystems from devastation."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for lionfish

• Nearby Words

linville falls
linz
lion
lionfish
lionhead cichlid
lionhead goldfish
lippia

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'lion' and 'fish', named for their elaborate, fan-like pectoral and dorsal fins that resemble the mane of a male lion.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Lionfish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lionfish
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