guppy

noun gup·py \ ˈgə-pē \

Updated on: 17 Mar 2018

Definition of guppy

plural guppies

: a small bony fish (Poecilia reticulata of the family Poeciliidae) especially of Barbados, Trinidad, and Venezuela that is a live-bearer and is often kept as an aquarium fish

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Recent Examples of guppy from the Web

The Newington Sphinx Shriners darted about in their miniature cars and red fezzes like guppies in a pond.

— matthew ormseth, courant.com, "St. Patrick's Day Parade Packs Downtown Day After Facebook Threat," 10 Mar. 2018
But with Freeze, the Rebels would have stood more of a chance than a guppy against a shark.

— andrew astleford, ajc, "The SEC will miss Hugh Freeze when Alabama rolls Ole Miss," 28 Sep. 2017
And of course, the Judases formerly known as the San Diego Chargers, were guppies, or anchovies, or sardines.

— nick canepa, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Deja Koo: Chargers make themselves at home with another L," 17 Sep. 2017
Girls whiptail from three corners like guppies fighting for the last crumb at the top of a fish tank.

— gail sheehy, Daily Intelligencer, "Wide Open City/Part II: Redpants and Sugarman," 9 Sep. 2017
Researchers have always wondered whether the females had a way to get rid of some of this sperm after mating, similar to methods used by species including scorpionflies and guppies.

— joshua rapp learn, Smithsonian, "Whoa: Polygamous Wolf Spiders Have a Natural Form of Birth Control," 23 Aug. 2017
The names include, among others, Adorable Angel Fish, Giggling Guppies, Jumping Jelly Fish, Smiling Sting Rays and Outstanding Otters.

— linda gandee/special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "A new Goddard School is welcomed in Avon Lake," 28 Aug. 2017
The rebranding comes three years after Daddies bought the remnants of the larger company from Foot Locker -- a deal that has been likened to a guppy swallowing a whale.

— allan brettman, OregonLive.com, "MAX trains delayed Saturday morning," 29 July 2017
Anyone with the sense of a guppy knew Phelps was dead meat.

— david whitley, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Phelps vs. Great White no fishier than Mayweather vs. McGregor," 24 July 2017

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