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Definition of starfish

starfish

/ˈstɑːr.fɪʃ/
star · fish
Plural:starfish
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starfish Lexical Profile

starfish Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A marine echinoderm belonging to the class Asteroidea, typically featuring a central disk and five or more radiating arms equipped with tube feet, found on the seabed in all the world's oceans.

Example

"While exploring the tide pools at low tide, the children spotted a bright orange starfish clinging tightly to a submerged boulder."

Photo by Herbythyme / CC BY-SA 4.0
Synonyms
View all synonyms for starfish

Word Nuance & Usage

Because they lack gills, scales, and fins, marine biologists increasingly prefer the term 'sea star' to emphasize that these animals are echinoderms, not true fish.

• Rhymes for starfish

• Nearby Words

star thistle
star tortoise
starch
starfish
starflower
stargazer
starling

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the 1530s; formed as a compound of 'star' and 'fish', describing its star-like radial symmetry and marine habitat.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Starfish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/starfish
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