fishbowl

noun

fish·​bowl ˈfish-ˌbōl How to pronounce fishbowl (audio)
1
: a bowl for the keeping of live fish
2
: a place or condition that affords no privacy

Examples of fishbowl in a Sentence

Being a politician these days means living in a fishbowl—every part of your life is open to public view.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The reason so many pet fish die is that they are kept in small fishbowls and have no space to grow and prosper. Maria Figueroa, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2025 For a fun Halloween presentation, serve the punch in a large glass fishbowl to mimic the look of a crystal ball. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2025 The Cupid Is Stupid Karaoke package includes shareable bites and group-style beverages like fishbowl cocktails and buckets of beer. Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 Such media coverage does affect how fans view players, especially in the Barca fishbowl. Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for fishbowl

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fishbowl was in 1906

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Cite this Entry

“Fishbowl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fishbowl. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

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