pilot fish
noun
: a pelagic carangid fish (Naucrates ductor) that has dark vertical stripes and often swims in company with a shark
Examples of pilot fish in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Youngblood plays Baby's best pal William, a quick-witted pilot fish who can be quite the jokester.
—
Katie Campione, PEOPLE.com, 25 Mar. 2021
Not unlike sharks and the pilot fish that clean their teeth, the Kardashian family and the design duo Dolce & Gabbana have established a symbiotic relationship wherein everyone is benefiting.
—Rory Satran, WSJ, 26 Sep. 2022
As an attorney, Caplan thought of himself as a pilot fish.
—Elizabeth MacBride, Forbes, 4 June 2022
In the middle, a truck driven by Jeff Deese serves as a pilot fish for the tanker.
—al, 28 Feb. 2022
That will be decided by the biggest of the big fish; the rest of us will follow, attaching like pilot fish.
—Richard E. Farley, Town & Country, 26 July 2015
Katie Campione, PEOPLE.com, 25 Mar. 2021
Not unlike sharks and the pilot fish that clean their teeth, the Kardashian family and the design duo Dolce & Gabbana have established a symbiotic relationship wherein everyone is benefiting.
—Rory Satran, WSJ, 26 Sep. 2022
As an attorney, Caplan thought of himself as a pilot fish.
—Elizabeth MacBride, Forbes, 4 June 2022
In the middle, a truck driven by Jeff Deese serves as a pilot fish for the tanker.
—al, 28 Feb. 2022
That will be decided by the biggest of the big fish; the rest of us will follow, attaching like pilot fish.
—Richard E. Farley, Town & Country, 26 July 2015
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pilot 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
1592, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near pilot fish
Cite this Entry
“Pilot fish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pilot%20fish. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
pilot fish
noun
: a fish with a narrow body and a widely forked tail that often swims near a shark
More from Merriam-Webster on pilot fish
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pilot fish
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