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bony fish
noun
: any of a major taxon (class Osteichthyes or superclass Teleostomi) comprising fishes (such as sturgeons, eels, mackerels, and sunfish) with a bony rather than a cartilaginous skeleton
called also teleost
compare cartilaginous fish, jawless fishExamples of bony fish in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But in the pit, the majority of specimens were roach, a small bony fish that’s difficult to eat without some sort of processing.
—Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 6 May 2020
Not all fish have bones — sharks have skeletons made of cartilage — and only bony fish form fish rings.
—The Arizona Republic, 19 Feb. 2024
The shape of its jaw indicates a short head designed for a formidable bite, ideal for hunting smaller sharks, bony fish, and squid-like orthocones.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024
Most birds have this ability, along with honeybees, reptiles and certain bony fish.
—Lauren Leffer, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2024
Their diet favors bony fish and smaller sharks (including their fellow bull sharks), as well as turtles, birds, dolphins and crustaceans.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 16 July 2023
In the water, sharks, dolphins, rays and certain bony fish have electroreception.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2023
In Nussbaum’s view, all mammals fall within this category; so too do bony fish and birds; insects can go either way; corals, jellyfish, and sponges don’t qualify.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Dec. 2022
Maybe the tetrapods, sharks and bony fish would have outcompeted their rivals anyway.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 23 Jan. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bony fish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1673, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near bony fish
Cite this Entry
“Bony fish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bony%20fish. Accessed 16 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
bony fish
noun
: any of a class of fishes (as eels, mackerels, and trout) with bony rather than cartilaginous skeletons
More from Merriam-Webster on bony fish
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bony fish
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