billfish
noun
bill·fish
ˈbil-ˌfish 
: a fish with long slender jaws
especially
: any of various bony fishes (families Istiophoridae and Xiphiidae) with an elongated tapering upper jaw including marlins, spearfishes, and sailfishes
Examples of billfish in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Distribution and Habitat Sailfish are one of the most abundant billfish in the U.S., and though they can be caught as far north as Cape Cod, Florida is hailed as the sailfish capital of the States.
—
Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 9 Nov. 2023
Witness the largest billfish tournament in the world with live music, beach tennis, food and drinks, corn hole tournament and a livestream of the fishing tournament weigh-ins.
—Hailey Closson, Baltimore Sun, 1 Aug. 2023
The main event is blue marlin but there are other billfish, mahi mahi, wahoo and especially big tuna.
—Larry Olmsted, Forbes, 4 May 2023
The fish’s gut cavity was packed with ice before it was wrapped in an insulated billfish bag, which was filled with ice for the long trip back to the dock.
—David Rainer Alabama Department Of Conservation and Natural Resources, al, 26 Jan. 2023
Rods up to 15-weight are used for sharks, billfish, and similar exotic jumbos.
—Morgan Lyle, Field & Stream, 28 Mar. 2023
And this one fits the billfish.
—Baltimore Sun, 22 May 2022
These hostile zones also likely afford refuge for Humboldt squid from many of their own predators, such as tuna, billfish and sharks, Field points out.
—Katherine Harmon, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2010
Here's what is going to protect us instead Download the USA TODAY mobile app
Adult tuna, billfish and dolphinfish are the target catch for the FADS, but juvenile fish, sharks and other species also can get caught up in the catch.
—Kimberly Miller, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2020
See More
Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 9 Nov. 2023
Witness the largest billfish tournament in the world with live music, beach tennis, food and drinks, corn hole tournament and a livestream of the fishing tournament weigh-ins.
—Hailey Closson, Baltimore Sun, 1 Aug. 2023
The main event is blue marlin but there are other billfish, mahi mahi, wahoo and especially big tuna.
—Larry Olmsted, Forbes, 4 May 2023
The fish’s gut cavity was packed with ice before it was wrapped in an insulated billfish bag, which was filled with ice for the long trip back to the dock.
—David Rainer Alabama Department Of Conservation and Natural Resources, al, 26 Jan. 2023
Rods up to 15-weight are used for sharks, billfish, and similar exotic jumbos.
—Morgan Lyle, Field & Stream, 28 Mar. 2023
And this one fits the billfish.
—Baltimore Sun, 22 May 2022
These hostile zones also likely afford refuge for Humboldt squid from many of their own predators, such as tuna, billfish and sharks, Field points out.
—Katherine Harmon, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2010
Here's what is going to protect us instead Download the USA TODAY mobile app
Adult tuna, billfish and dolphinfish are the target catch for the FADS, but juvenile fish, sharks and other species also can get caught up in the catch.
—Kimberly Miller, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2020
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'billfish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1782, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near billfish
Cite this Entry
“Billfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/billfish. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.
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