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Definition of paradise fish
paradise fish
Plural:paradise fish
paradise fish Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A small, brightly colored freshwater labyrinth fish (Macropodus opercularis) native to East Asia, frequently kept in aquariums and noted for its striking fins and highly territorial behavior.
Example
"The hobbyist set up a heavily planted tank specifically for a male paradise fish to prevent it from aggressively bullying smaller tank mates."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for paradise fishWord Origin & Etymology
The name references the fish's striking, highly saturated coloration, reminiscent of the vibrant plumage seen in 'birds of paradise.' It was one of the first ornamental labyrinth fishes imported to Europe in the 19th century.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Paradise fish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/paradise fish