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Definition of yellow tang
yellow tang
Plural:yellow tangs
yellow tang Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
7
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A brightly colored, entirely yellow marine surgeonfish (Zebrasoma flavescens) native to shallow reefs in the Pacific Ocean, especially around Hawaii, and widely kept in saltwater aquariums.
Example
"The yellow tang is one of the most popular and recognizable species in the marine aquarium hobby due to its vibrant coloration and hardiness."
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from its bright yellow coloration and 'tang,' a common name for surgeonfish which refers to the sharp, spine-like structures at the base of their tails.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Yellow tang. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/yellow tang