lionfish

noun

li·​on·​fish ˈlī-ən-ˌfish How to pronounce lionfish (audio)
: any of several scorpaenid fishes (genus Pterois) of the Indian Ocean and the tropical Pacific that are brilliantly striped and barred with elongated fins and venomous dorsal spines

Examples of lionfish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Unlike destructive exotic species such as pythons and lionfish that are here to stay in South Florida, snakeheads haven’t been as bad as many folks feared. Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025 The invasion of Pacific lionfish into Florida coasts, the Gulf of Mexico and parts of the Caribbean was slowed down by local divers and recreational fishing groups teaming up to hunt and then market lionfish to restaurants. Rebecca Vega Thurber, The Conversation, 26 Sep. 2025 Nurse and reef sharks prowl for their next meal, lionfish hide in plain sight, and a cuttlefish scurries by. Peter Kelly, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2025 For more restaurants serving lionfish in the U.S. and Caribbean, check out Reef.org’s directory. Kaila Yu, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for lionfish

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lionfish was in 1848

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Cite this Entry

“Lionfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lionfish. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.

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