plural koi
: a carp (Cyprinus carpio) bred especially in Japan for large size and a variety of colors and often stocked in ornamental ponds
Examples of koi in a Sentence
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Their popularity exploded after the Tokyo Taishō Exhibition in 1914, where breeders from Niigata showcased their vibrant koi, captivating the public and elevating the fish to symbols of prestige and beauty across Japan and eventually Asia.
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Scott Travers, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
The nation’s top koi aficionados will bring their most spectacular fish — up to 3 feet long — to South San Jose to compete this weekend, April 5-6, in the ZNA NorCal National Koi Show.
—Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025
Let yourself be carried away by the flowers, the butterflies, the parakeets, the huge koi in the pond with a waterfall, and even the horses, because Patch of Heaven Sanctuary has a magnificent stable.
—Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025
Once an important feudal stronghold deep in the Japanese Alps, Matsumoto is known today for its towering castle; arguably the most stunning fortification in the entire country with its black-onyx trim and turquoise moat filled with curious koi.
—Brandon Presser, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2025
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Scott Travers, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
The nation’s top koi aficionados will bring their most spectacular fish — up to 3 feet long — to South San Jose to compete this weekend, April 5-6, in the ZNA NorCal National Koi Show.
—Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025
Let yourself be carried away by the flowers, the butterflies, the parakeets, the huge koi in the pond with a waterfall, and even the horses, because Patch of Heaven Sanctuary has a magnificent stable.
—Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025
Once an important feudal stronghold deep in the Japanese Alps, Matsumoto is known today for its towering castle; arguably the most stunning fortification in the entire country with its black-onyx trim and turquoise moat filled with curious koi.
—Brandon Presser, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for koi
Cite this Entry
“Koi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/koi. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
koi
noun
: a carp that has been bred to be of various bright colors and is often stocked in ornamental ponds
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