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Definition of paddlefish
paddlefish
/ˈpæd.əl.fɪʃ/
pad · dle · fish
Plural:paddlefish
paddlefish Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
10
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
paddlefish Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
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WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A large, primitive freshwater fish of the family Polyodontidae, characterized by a predominantly cartilaginous skeleton, nearly scale-less skin, and a long, distinctive paddle-shaped snout. The surviving species is native to the Mississippi River basin in North America.
Example
"Conservationists are monitoring the American paddlefish population to prevent them from becoming endangered like their Chinese counterparts."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for paddlefish• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Late 18th century: A compound of 'paddle' and 'fish', named for the distinctive elongated, spatula-like shape of its snout (rostrum).
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Paddlefish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/paddlefish