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Definition of toothfish
toothfish
/ˈtuːθ.fɪʃ/
tooth · fish
Plural:toothfish
toothfish Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
toothfish Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A large, deep-water, predatory marine fish of the genus Dissostichus, native to the cold waters of the Southern Ocean and prized commercially for its high fat content and rich, flaky meat.
Example
"Conservationists raised alarms regarding the illegal harvesting of the Patagonian toothfish in Antarctic waters."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often encountered in culinary contexts under the marketing name 'Chilean sea bass', a term invented to make the fish sound more appetizing to consumers.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A compound of 'tooth' and 'fish', named for the prominent, sharp teeth these large, deep-water predators use to catch their prey.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Toothfish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/toothfish