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Definition of silver shark
silver shark
Plural:silver sharks
silver shark Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
7
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A silvery freshwater fish of the carp and minnow family, native to Southeast Asia, distinguished by its torpedo-shaped body and a large, black-edged dorsal fin that resembles that of a shark.
Example
"The silver shark is a popular species for large home aquariums because of its active swimming behavior and striking, metallic appearance."
Word Nuance & Usage
Despite its common name, the silver shark is not a true marine shark but a freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the minnow family, frequently referred to in the aquarium trade as the Bala shark.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name is a reference to its metallic silver coloration and its large, erect dorsal fin and torpedo-shaped body, which loosely resemble those of a marine shark.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Silver shark. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/silver shark