jellyfish

noun

jel·ly·fish | \ ˈje-lē-ˌfish

Definition of jellyfish

1a : the typically free-swimming, bell-shaped, usually sexually-reproducing solitary or colonial form of a cnidarian in which the whorls of tentacles lined with nematocysts arise and hang down from the margin of the nearly transparent, gelatinous bell : medusa especially : a large medusa characteristic of the siphonophores and scyphozoans (such as the sea nettle or box jellyfish)

b : siphonophore

c : ctenophore

2 : a person lacking backbone or firmness

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More About jellyfish

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Synonyms & Antonyms for jellyfish

Synonyms

Antonyms

stalwart

Examples of jellyfish in a Sentence

a jellyfish who was afraid to tell her boss that her latest brainstorm was just plain bad

Recent Examples on the Web But can your mind exist only in a biological substrate that weighs 1.5 kilograms, is very wet, and floats like a jellyfish? — Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2021 Biomolecular tools that have worked for bacteria, jellyfish and algae for millions of years are now being used in medicine and biological research. — Marc Zimmer, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2021 Visitors can spend time with jellyfish and dolphins, or attend a half-price Friday night for an exciting kick off to the weekend. — Maya Kachroo-levine, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2021 Or put a micro L.B.D. beneath a white ostrich feather hat by Philip Treacy, looking like the offspring of a jellyfish and a sea anemone, the tentacles floating eerily in the wind atop an attenuated silhouette. — New York Times, 16 July 2021 With an impressive assortment of sea life including sharks, penguins, otters and jellyfish, the aquarium drew up 2 million visitors a year before the pandemic. — oregonlive, 5 July 2021 From five barges stationed in the East River around Midtown, an extravaganza of colorful pyrotechnics—look out for fans, rainbows, and jellyfish—will be set to a sweeping patriotic score. — Regan Stephens, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 July 2021 Purple flags to warn of dangerous marine life are also in both locations with jellyfish reported in the water. — Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 17 June 2021 Sea salps -- gelantinous, marine organisms that look like jellyfish -- may be small, typically measuring less than 10 centimeters tall. — Aaron Clark, Bloomberg.com, 8 Apr. 2021

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

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Dictionary Entries Near jellyfish

jelly end rot

jellyfish

jelly fungus

Statistics for jellyfish

Last Updated

25 Oct 2021

Cite this Entry

“Jellyfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jellyfish. Accessed 27 Oct. 2021.

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More Definitions for jellyfish

jellyfish

noun

English Language Learners Definition of jellyfish

: a sea animal that has a very soft body and that can sting

See the full definition for jellyfish in the English Language Learners Dictionary

jellyfish

noun

jel·ly·fish | \ ˈje-lē-ˌfish

Kids Definition of jellyfish

: a free-swimming sea animal related to the corals that has a nearly transparent jellylike body shaped like a saucer and tentacles with stinging cells

jellyfish

noun

jel·ly·fish | \ ˈjel-ē-ˌfish

Medical Definition of jellyfish

: a free-swimming marine coelenterate that is the sexually reproducing form of a hydrozoan or scyphozoan and has a nearly transparent saucer-shaped body and extensible marginal tentacles studded with stinging cells