sailfish
noun
sail·fish
ˈsāl-ˌfish 
: any of a genus (Istiophorus, especially I. platypterus) of billfishes having a very large dorsal fin
Examples of sailfish in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Traveling angler Paul Renfro was in the fighting chair when the Pacific Fins crew landed the all-white sailfish.
—
Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 29 Feb. 2024
The book has chapters on sharks, tunas, dolphin, sailfish, kingfish, grouper, tarpon and snook.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
Farther out in the Gulf waters, offshore trophies such as tuna, kingfish, sailfish, and marlin prove bountiful game.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024
Pacific Fins pointed out in its post that this is true even in Guatemala, which is widely considered the sailfish capital of the world.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 29 Feb. 2024
In 2018, a German fly fisherman caught a leucistic sailfish there.
—Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 29 Feb. 2024
Local angler Tyler Arrington fished offshore of Haulover Inlet in 125 feet of water and caught gaffer-size dolphins, kingfish, lots of bonitos, sailfish and lost a nice wahoo at boat side.
—Alan Sherman, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
One of the most notable attributes between them is that Pacific sailfish grow larger on average than Atlantic sailfish.
—Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 9 Nov. 2023
Many people don’t realize that, scientifically speaking, swordfish are not related to marlin or sailfish.
—Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 9 Nov. 2023
Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 29 Feb. 2024
The book has chapters on sharks, tunas, dolphin, sailfish, kingfish, grouper, tarpon and snook.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
Farther out in the Gulf waters, offshore trophies such as tuna, kingfish, sailfish, and marlin prove bountiful game.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024
Pacific Fins pointed out in its post that this is true even in Guatemala, which is widely considered the sailfish capital of the world.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 29 Feb. 2024
In 2018, a German fly fisherman caught a leucistic sailfish there.
—Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 29 Feb. 2024
Local angler Tyler Arrington fished offshore of Haulover Inlet in 125 feet of water and caught gaffer-size dolphins, kingfish, lots of bonitos, sailfish and lost a nice wahoo at boat side.
—Alan Sherman, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
One of the most notable attributes between them is that Pacific sailfish grow larger on average than Atlantic sailfish.
—Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 9 Nov. 2023
Many people don’t realize that, scientifically speaking, swordfish are not related to marlin or sailfish.
—Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 9 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sailfish.' 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
1879, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near sailfish
Cite this Entry
“Sailfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sailfish. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
sailfish
noun
sail·fish
-ˌfish
: any of a genus of large sea fishes that are related to the swordfish and marlins and have long slender jaws and a very large fin like a sail on the back
More from Merriam-Webster on sailfish
Nglish: Translation of sailfish for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sailfish
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