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Definition of paddlefish

paddlefish

/ˈpæd.əl.fɪʃ/
pad · dle · fish
Plural:paddlefish
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paddlefish Lexical Profile

paddlefish Game Scores & Validity

• 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

paddleball
paddleboard
paddleboat
paddlefish
paddler
paddlesteamer
paddlewheel

Word Origin & Etymology

Late 18th century: A compound of 'paddle' and 'fish', named for the distinctive elongated, spatula-like shape of its snout (rostrum).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Paddlefish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/paddlefish
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