surgeonfish

noun

sur·​geon·​fish ˈsər-jən-ˌfish How to pronounce surgeonfish (audio)
: any of a family (Acanthuridae) of tropical bony fishes that have a laterally compressed body and typically a movable spine on each side of the body near the base of the tail capable of inflicting a painful wound

Examples of surgeonfish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Like schools of surgeonfish that unite in the face of an imminent threat, the global community must come together in vision, voice and action to combat the alarming realities of the climate crisis. Time, 6 Jan. 2022 Sail a traditional dhow boat a half hour to the reef and discover a variety of corals and marine species—from frogfish and sea turtles to shrimp and surgeonfish. National Geographic, 12 June 2019 Meanwhile, a group of scientists perusing a market in the Philippines stumbled upon a completely new species of surgeonfish. Danielle Hall, Smithsonian, 16 Dec. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'surgeonfish.' 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

1871, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of surgeonfish was in 1871

Dictionary Entries Near surgeonfish

Cite this Entry

“Surgeonfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surgeonfish. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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