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Definition of mosquitofish

mosquitofish

/məˈskiːtoʊˌfɪʃ/
mos · qui · to · fish
Plural:mosquitofish
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mosquitofish Lexical Profile

mosquitofish Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small, live-bearing freshwater fish of the genus Gambusia (family Poeciliidae), native to the Americas and widely introduced into ponds and waterways globally to control mosquito populations by feeding on their larvae.

Example

"The local health department released mosquitofish into the abandoned pond to help prevent the spread of West Nile virus."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for mosquitofish

• Nearby Words

moskva
mosque
mosquito
mosquitofish
moss
moss campion
moss phlox

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'mosquito' and 'fish', coined in the early 20th century because of the fish's voracious appetite for mosquito larvae.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mosquitofish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mosquitofish
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