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betta

noun bet·ta \ ˈbe-tə \

Definition of betta

: any of a genus (Betta of the family Anabantidae) of small brilliantly colored long-finned freshwater bony fishes of southeastern Asia; especially : siamese fighting fish

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Recent Examples of betta from the Web

A domestic dispute in Connecticut ended with significant property damage, including a woman's betta fish being cut in half.

— ajc homepage, ajc, "Police: Man cuts girlfriend's betta fish in half during fight," 29 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'betta.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of betta

New Latin, probably from Javanese waděr, a freshwater fish

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First Known Use: 1887

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