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Definition of unicornfish
unicornfish
/ˈjuːnɪkɔːrnfɪʃ/
u · ni · corn · fish
Plural:unicornfish
unicornfish Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any of several tropical marine surgeonfishes of the genus Naso, native primarily to the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific oceans, characterized by a prominent bony horn-like appendage extending from the forehead.
Example
"While scuba diving near the Hawaiian coral reefs, the marine biology students observed a large bluespine unicornfish grazing on benthic algae."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for unicornfishWord Origin & Etymology
A compound of 'unicorn' (from Latin 'unicornis', meaning one-horned) and 'fish'. The name refers to the distinctive, horn-like protrusion on the forehead of adult males in many species of this genus.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Unicornfish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/unicornfish