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Definition of surgeonfish

surgeonfish

/ˈsɝː.dʒənˌfɪʃ/
sur · geon · fish
Plural:surgeonfishes
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surgeonfish Lexical Profile

surgeonfish Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of numerous marine fishes of the family Acanthuridae, primarily found in tropical coral reef environments, characterized by a sharp, scalpel-like spine on either side of the tail base used for defense.

Example

"While snorkeling over the coral reef, we spotted a bright blue tang, a striking and popular type of surgeonfish."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for surgeonfish

• Nearby Words

surfside
surge
surgeon
surgeonfish
surgery
surgical
surgically

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'surgeon' and 'fish,' so named because the sharp, erectile spines located at the base of the fish's tail resemble a surgeon's scalpel.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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