pupfish

noun

pup·​fish ˈpəp-ˌfish How to pronounce pupfish (audio)
: any of several killifishes (especially genus Cyprinodon of the family Cyprinodontidae) especially of warm streams and springs of the western U.S.

Examples of pupfish 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.
Nearby is the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to critically endangered Amargosa toads and pupfish. Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 17 Jan. 2026 The hardy pupfish are capable of surviving harsh temperatures and severe water conditions that would kill most other fish species, but their population has declined primarily due to habitat loss. Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 4 Nov. 2025 The ersatz Devils Hole was constructed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, after the population of pupfish in the real pool dropped to a mere thirty-five individuals, in 2013. Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2025 The Devils Hole pupfish is trying to rebound after a natural disaster. Kelli Bender, People.com, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pupfish

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pupfish was in 1949

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pupfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pupfish. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on pupfish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster