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Definition of whitefish

whitefish

/ˈwaɪt.fɪʃ/
white · fish

Plural:whitefish
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whitefish Lexical Profile

whitefish Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A culinary term for any of various species of demersal fish with white, flaky, and mild-tasting flesh, such as cod, haddock, or pollock.

Example

"The chef prepared a delicate pan-seared whitefish served with a lemon-herb butter sauce."


2

Any of various silvery freshwater fishes of the salmon family (subfamily Coregoninae), predominantly found in cold lakes and streams of the Northern Hemisphere.

Example

"We spent the chilly autumn morning catching whitefish on Lake Superior."

Word Nuance & Usage

The term 'whitefish' can refer to a specific biological subfamily of freshwater fish related to salmon, but in culinary contexts, it broadly describes any demersal ocean fish with white flesh, such as cod or haddock.

• Rhymes for whitefish

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the mid-16th century, formed as a compound of 'white' and 'fish', referencing the pale color of the fish's scales and flesh.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


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