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

An octopus can detach from an object by having its muscles release tension. —ArsTechnica, 28 June 2025

What do an octopus, a dirigible, the Underground Railroad and an Emmy-winning This Is Us alum have in common? —Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 23 June 2025

Scuba Diving Montage Los Cabos, Mexico The only 5-star PADI Resort in Los Cabos, Montage Los Cabos offers opportunities for scuba certification and exclusive night dives that reveal bioluminescent marine life, stingrays, octopuses and more under a moonlit sky. —Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025

Visitors can step back to prehistoric times in Cruisin’ the Fossil Coastline, watch sea lions and harbor seals play in the Pacific waters or search for a glimpse of the elusive giant Pacific octopus. —Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 8 June 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"