goliath grouper

noun

variants or Goliath grouper

plural goliath groupers or goliath grouper or Goliath groupers or Goliath grouper

: a very large grouper (Epinephelus itajara) of shallow waters especially of the western Atlantic Ocean from southern Florida to Brazil that may reach weights of up to 800 pounds (363 kilograms)

Note: This fish was formerly known as the jewfish but was officially renamed by the American Fisheries Society and Committee on Names of Fishes in 2001 due to the offensiveness of the historical name.

Examples of goliath grouper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After years of lobbying from various fishing interests who maintain the species not only made a comeback, but were wiping out other species because of their voracious appetites, the FWC agreed in 2022 to open a very limited goliath grouper season. —David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 10 June 2025

Explore the Chikuzen, a Japanese fishing boat that drifted 12 miles north of Virgin Gorda—keep an eye out for the 600-pound goliath grouper that likes to hang around. —AFAR Media, 23 May 2025

Closer to shore and shallower, the wreck of the Red Sea is covered with urchins and sponges and is home to goliath groupers that tip the scales over 300 pounds. —Terry Ward, Outside Online, 19 Jan. 2025

August and September bring goliath grouper to spawn, with aggregations upward of 60 strong, sometimes congregating above wrecks looking to mate. —Terry Ward, Outside Online, 19 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

2001, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for goliath grouper

• paratrooper
• hooper
• keuper
• looper
• stupor
• super
• trooper