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

Examples of octopus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The expansive menu comprises appetizers (mussel, calamari, soft shell crab), carpaccio (halibut, tuna, octopus, salmon); salads (seaweed, octopus, spicy tuna, scallops, shrimp), sushi a la carte, sashimi and beyond. —George A. Paul, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025

But because scientists are still figuring out how most octopuses use those arms in the wild. —Berly McCoy, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025

The tangy ceviche rojo is a plate of octopus, shrimp, whitefish, cilantro, red onion and jalapeños, with crispy tostadas, meant for sharing. —John Mariani, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

New research published Thursday shows that octopuses have the ability to use any of their eight limbs to perform tasks like reaching, tiptoeing or grasping. —Evan Bush, NBC news, 14 Sep. 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"