octopus

noun

oc·​to·​pus ˈäk-tə-pəs 

-ˌpu̇s

plural octopuses or octopi ˈäk-tə-ˌpī 

1

plural also octopodes äk-​ˈtä-​pə-​ˌdēz 

-​ˈtō-

: any of a genus (Octopus) of cephalopod mollusks that have eight muscular arms equipped with two rows of suckers

broadly : any octopod excepting the paper nautilus

2

: something that resembles an octopus especially in having many centrally directed branches

… an octopus of a corporation which lends, buys, produces, and sells.

—Atlantic

Illustration of octopus

• octopus 1

The Plurals of Octopus: Usage Guide

The plurals of octopus are octopi, octopuses, and octopodes. Octopi is the oldest, having been adopted in the belief that words of Latin origin should have Latin plural forms. Though octopus did enter English via New Latin, it is in fact ultimately from Greek. For this reason, it was later given the Greek plural octopodes. In between the adoption of these etymology-based plural forms the word also gained a regular English plural: octopuses. This is now the most common plural form, with octopi also seeing some regular use. Octopodes is rare, but all three are accepted.

Examples of octopus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Seeing whole — and sometimes live — lobsters, crabs, octopuses, and fish in our kitchen was nothing out of the ordinary, and things like chicken feet and pigs' heads were readily available at our neighborhood grocery store. —Lennie Omalza, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Nov. 2025

Approaching one pool, a family was cheek to cheek, gazing at a small octopus that had ventured out slightly from a sheltered rock alcove. —Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2025

For a lower-stakes, breezier project, try a camellias-lilacs-and-sunflower wooden bouquet ($40) or a faintly Lovecraftian punch-out assembly kit for a venomous blue-ringed octopus ($40). —Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 15 Nov. 2025

Expect Marea’s beloved crudi, octopus and bone marrow fusilli, alongside new local creations like Dungeness crab pappardelle and branzino tartare. —Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Octopod-, Octopus, from Greek oktōpous

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for octopus

• blunderbuss
• platypus
• xenopus
• pithecanthropus
• puss

Kids Definition

octopus

noun

oc·​to·​pus ˈäk-tə-pəs 

plural octopuses or octopi -ˌpī 

1

: any of various sea mollusks that are cephalopods having eight muscular arms with two rows of suckers which hold objects (as its prey)

2

: something suggestive of an octopus

especially : a powerful grasping organization with many branches

Etymology

from scientific Latin Octopod-, Octopus "octopus," from Greek oktōpous, literally, "eight-footed," from oktō "eight" and pous "foot"