medaka

noun

me·​da·​ka mə-ˈdä-kə How to pronounce medaka (audio)
: a small Japanese freshwater fish (Oryzias latipes) usually silvery brown in the wild but from pale yellow to deep red in aquarium strains

Examples of medaka in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Male medaka continue to mate with females despite sperm depletion R. Soc. Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025 For a tiny fish called the medaka (Oryzias latipes), males have a mating capacity of 19 times per day. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 8 Jan. 2025 The Japanese rice fish, also referred to as medaka, has transparent skin — perfect for helping researchers investigate the effects of microgravity on marine life, and more specifically, the effects on their bones. Lydia Rivers, Discover Magazine, 3 May 2021

Word History

Etymology

Japanese

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of medaka was in 1906

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Cite this Entry

“Medaka.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medaka. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.

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