blackfish
noun
black·fish
ˈblak-ˌfish 
1
: any of numerous dark-colored fishes: such as
a
: tautog
b
: a small bony fish (Dallia pectoralis of the family Esocidae) of Alaska and Siberia that is used for food and is noted for its resistance to cold
2
: any of several small toothed whales
especially
: pilot whale
Examples of blackfish in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
By the second brown tide algal bloom, in 1995, most commercial fishermen had diversified, buying new gear to catch black sea bass, blackfish and striped bass, said Ken Homan, owner of Braun’s Seafood, a major wholesaler on the North Fork.
—
Christopher Maag, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2024
Just how tough is the blackfish?
—Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Jan. 2023
The inshore fishing is mainly the die-hard tog fishermen, searching for a blackfish.
—Dan Radel, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2021
In the last five years, using jigs for blackfish has grown in popularity, with many arguing that the method is more effective than dropping a traditional rig.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 15 Jan. 2020
To see how much blackfish could take, the men subjected them to more tests.
—Anchorage Daily News, 28 Dec. 2019
The killer whales are called aaxlu, tukxukuak, agliuk, mesungesak, polossatik, skana, keet, feared one, grampus, blackfish, orca, big-fin, fat-chopper. Whale killer.
—Nancy Lord, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Nov. 2019
These coolers formed a distribution point for guests who would collect meals of striped bass, black sea bass, summer flounder, blackfish, and more.
—Popular Mechanics, 30 June 2019
For the Lummi Nation, the orca, also know as the blackfish, are family members, their relatives under the sea.
—Lynda V. Mapes, The Seattle Times, 6 Aug. 2018
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Christopher Maag, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2024
Just how tough is the blackfish?
—Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Jan. 2023
The inshore fishing is mainly the die-hard tog fishermen, searching for a blackfish.
—Dan Radel, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2021
In the last five years, using jigs for blackfish has grown in popularity, with many arguing that the method is more effective than dropping a traditional rig.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 15 Jan. 2020
To see how much blackfish could take, the men subjected them to more tests.
—Anchorage Daily News, 28 Dec. 2019
The killer whales are called aaxlu, tukxukuak, agliuk, mesungesak, polossatik, skana, keet, feared one, grampus, blackfish, orca, big-fin, fat-chopper. Whale killer.
—Nancy Lord, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Nov. 2019
These coolers formed a distribution point for guests who would collect meals of striped bass, black sea bass, summer flounder, blackfish, and more.
—Popular Mechanics, 30 June 2019
For the Lummi Nation, the orca, also know as the blackfish, are family members, their relatives under the sea.
—Lynda V. Mapes, The Seattle Times, 6 Aug. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Blackfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blackfish. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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