tilapia

noun

ti·​la·​pia tə-ˈlä-pē-ə How to pronounce tilapia (audio) -ˈlā- How to pronounce tilapia (audio)
plural tilapia also tilapias
: any of numerous chiefly African freshwater cichlid fishes (genera Oreochromis, Tilapia, and Sarotherodon) often raised for food

Examples of tilapia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Cod, freshly-cut each day and from the Atlantic Ocean, is one of the most popular catches, along with catfish, tilapia, and haddock. Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025 Meals lean heavily on regional ingredients, from tilapia wrapped in banana leaves and beef curry made with herbs sourced from nearby farms to cocktails garnished with local fruit and spices. Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025 The lemon sauce on the tilapia might be deglazed with the crispy bits in the pan, adding both depth and balance. Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 28 May 2025 These fish grow faster, consume less food, and produce bigger fillets than conventional tilapia do. IEEE Spectrum, 5 Jan. 2020 See All Example Sentences for tilapia

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, genus name

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tilapia was in 1849

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Cite this Entry

“Tilapia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tilapia. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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