anglerfish

noun

ang·​ler·​fish ˈaŋ-glər-ˌfish 

: any of several pediculate fishes (such as the goosefishes)

especially : monkfish

Examples of anglerfish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Planet Earth hosts a bevy of bioluminescence, from shimmery blue anglerfish to Switzerland’s glowing green mushrooms. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2025

Rare deep-sea anglerfish spotted in shallow waters Condrik Tenerife, a specialist in shark and ray research and conservation, was left stunned after spotting a deep-sea anglerfish in shallow waters off the coast of the Canary Islands. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 30 Apr. 2025

Last year, a dead anglerfish washed up on an Oregon beach for the first time in recorded history. —Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 19 Feb. 2025

Male anglerfish are small − only about one inch − and are not predatory. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

angler + fish entry 1; so called from the lure-like luminescent organ that extends from the tip of a modified dorsal fin in females

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for anglerfish

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

Kids Definition

anglerfish

noun

an·​gler·​fish

-ˌfish

: a bottom-dwelling marine fish that has a large flat head with parts that stick out and lure other fish within reach of its broad mouth