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Definition of soapfish

soapfish

/ˈsoʊp.fɪʃ/
soap · fish
Plural:soapfishes
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soapfish Lexical Profile

soapfish Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of various marine fishes of the subfamily Grammistinae (often classified within the sea bass family Serranidae), found in tropical and subtropical ocean waters and characterized by their ability to secrete a bitter, toxic, and soapy-looking mucus from their skin when threatened.

Example

"When cornered by a larger predator in the coral reef, the soapfish releases a sudsy toxin that quickly makes it unpalatable."

• Rhymes for soapfish

• Nearby Words

snowy owl
snub-nosed viper
soap
soapfish
soapweed
soapwort
soba

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'soap' and 'fish', so named because of the thick, toxic mucus these fishes secrete when stressed, which suds and lathers in the water similarly to soap.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Soapfish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/soapfish
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