: a European freshwater cyprinid fish (Barbus barbus) with four barbels on its upper jaw
also
: any of various closely related fishes
: a slender tactile process on the lips of certain fishes (such as catfishes)
Examples of barbel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
In all, Johnson and Mathison passed the huge barbels back and forth over their heads six times.
—Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 30 July 2025
These fish use legs to taste the seafloor (link in description)
Watch on
This discovery wasn’t necessarily a surprise, as other types of fish, such as goatfish and catfish, have taste receptors on the barbels that protrude from their heads.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Sep. 2024
The barbel stealthily power the ecosystem's greatest nutrient cycle.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
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Noun
Their fins and whisker-like barbels are translucent.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
In all, Johnson and Mathison passed the huge barbels back and forth over their heads six times.
—Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 30 July 2025
These fish use legs to taste the seafloor (link in description)
Watch on
This discovery wasn’t necessarily a surprise, as other types of fish, such as goatfish and catfish, have taste receptors on the barbels that protrude from their heads.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Sep. 2024
The barbel stealthily power the ecosystem's greatest nutrient cycle.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Barbel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbel. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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