lungfish

noun

lung·​fish ˈləŋ-ˌfish How to pronounce lungfish (audio)
: any of an order (Dipnoi) of bony fishes that breathe by a modified swim bladder as well as gills

Illustration of lungfish

Illustration of lungfish

Examples of lungfish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Consider, for instance, the lungfish or the platypus. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024 The lungfish in Africa have wispy fins and dig into the mud to survive droughts. Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2011 The term has a rich history: it was coined by Darwin himself, referring to the platypus and the South American lungfish; Richard Dawkins uses it in his books; and working scientists use it in their papers. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 20 Oct. 2011 By studying lungfish of various ages—especially old ones—the team could fine-tune its lungfish-aging method and learn more about the species’ longevity. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Sep. 2023 And in the cargo hold of a steamship, a young lungfish arrived from Australia to a new home at an aquarium in San Francisco. Soumya Karlamangla, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023 One Australian lungfish in particular has been around for a looooooong time, and her name is, appropriately, Methuselah. Rachel Feltman, Popular Science, 8 Nov. 2023 Steinhart’s two other lungfish were found to be about 54 and 50 years old. Soumya Karlamangla, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023 In other words, lungfish represent the evolutionary link between fish and amphibians. Soumya Karlamangla, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lungfish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lungfish was in 1883

Dictionary Entries Near lungfish

Cite this Entry

“Lungfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lungfish. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

lungfish

noun
lung·​fish ˈləŋ-ˌfish How to pronounce lungfish (audio)
: any of various fishes that breathe with structures resembling lungs as well as with gills

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