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Definition of viperfish

viperfish

/ˈvaɪ.pɚ.fɪʃ/
vi · per · fish
Plural:viperfish
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viperfish Lexical Profile

viperfish Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A deep-sea, bioluminescent marine fish of the genus Chauliodus, found globally in tropical and temperate oceans, characterized by a long, slender body and exceptionally long, fang-like teeth used to impale prey.

Example

"During the deep submersible dive, the researchers captured stunning footage of a viperfish using its glowing dorsal fin to lure smaller prey into its jaws."

• Nearby Words

viper boa
viper gecko
viper's bugloss
viperfish
vireo
virgilia
virgin's bower

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'viper' and 'fish', coined in the late 19th century due to the fish's disproportionately large, fang-like teeth that resemble those of a viper.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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