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Definition of pupfish

pupfish

/ˈpʌp.fɪʃ/
pup · fish
Plural:pupfish
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pupfish Lexical Profile

pupfish Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American Any of various small, hardy killifishes of the genus Cyprinodon and related genera, native primarily to the Americas and notable for surviving in isolated, extreme aquatic environments such as desert springs and highly saline marshes.

Example

"The endangered Devils Hole pupfish has adapted to survive in a single, deeply heated aquifer in the Nevada desert."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for pupfish

• Nearby Words

punish
pup
pupa
pupfish
pupil
puppet
puppy

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 20th century by American ichthyologist Carl L. Hubbs, who observed the small fish playfully darting around their habitats in a manner reminiscent of young puppies.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pupfish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 21, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pupfish
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