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

The actor thanked producers and writers of the project, as well as the technicians who brought her co-star — an octopus named Marcellus — to life. — Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Some baby hummingbirds disguise themselves as caterpillars with stinging hairs to avoid predators, while octopus, squid, and cuttlefish use camouflage to blend in with their surroundings and hide. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026

They are found from Cape Cod to Florida and eat fish, smaller sharks, octopus, squid, eels, rays, shrimp and crab. — Neal Riley, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026

While experiments in containment continue, including the release of tens of thousands of octopus predators, the industry’s response has been shifting to find new markets for the crustaceans. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026

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
• 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"