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Definition of pearlfish

pearlfish

/ˈpɝːlˌfɪʃ/
pearl · fish
Plural:pearlfish
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pearlfish Lexical Profile

pearlfish Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small, slender, eel-like marine fish of the family Carapidae, notable for its symbiotic or parasitic habit of living inside the body cavities of invertebrate hosts such as sea cucumbers, starfish, and bivalves.

Example

"During the night dive, the researchers recorded a pearlfish emerging from the cloaca of a large sea cucumber to forage for food."

• Nearby Words

pearl shoal falls
pearlescent
pearleye
pearlfish
pearlized
pearly
pearly everlasting

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'pearl' and 'fish'. The name originated because early specimens were occasionally discovered dead inside oyster shells, completely entombed in a pearl blister formed by the host bivalve.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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