angelfish

noun

an·​gel·​fish ˈān-jəl-ˌfish 

1

: any of several laterally compressed brightly colored bony fishes (family Pomacanthidae) of warm seas

2

: a black and silver laterally compressed South American cichlid fish (Pterophyllum scalare) popular in aquariums

called also scalare

Examples of angelfish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to the diving trail’s website, previous wrecks have attracted large numbers of fish like snapper, grouper, amberjack, angelfish and barracuda as well as sea urchin and corals. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2026

Go snorkeling with manta rays and angelfish on the Mesoamerican Reef (the world’s second largest). — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026

Thirty feet down, small reef fish (angelfish, blue tangs, and the like) cluster around brain, star, and elkhorn formations. — Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2026

Between a school of banggai cardinalfish, a single juvenile emperor angelfish cut through, its deep blue scales segmented by white, vein-looking striations. — John Donegan Long Beach Post, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for angelfish

• cuttlefish
• jellyfish
• sablefish
• bluefish
• catfish
• codfish
• crawfish
• dogfish
• finfish
• flatfish
• goldfish
• groundfish

Kids Definition

angelfish

noun

an·​gel·​fish ˈān-jəl-ˌfish 

1

: any of several brightly colored bony fishes that are very thin from side to side and live in warm seas

2

: a similarly thin black and silver South American fish popular in aquariums