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Definition of triplefin
triplefin
/ˈtrɪpəlˌfɪn/
tri · ple · fin
Plural:triplefins
triplefin Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any of various small, benthic marine fishes of the family Tripterygiidae, distinguished by having three separate dorsal fins and typically found in shallow coastal waters.
Example
"While snorkeling near the rocky reef, the marine biologist carefully photographed a brightly colored triplefin resting on a sponge."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for triplefinWord Origin & Etymology
A descriptive compound formed from 'triple' and 'fin', referring to the characteristic three distinct dorsal fins of the fishes in the family Tripterygiidae.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Triplefin. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/triplefin