sculpin

noun

scul·​pin ˈskəl-pən 

plural sculpins also sculpin

1

: any of a superfamily (Cottoidea) of spiny large-headed usually bottom-dwelling often scaleless bony fishes with large fanlike pectoral fins

2

: a scorpion fish (Scorpaena guttata) of the southern California coast caught for food and sport

Illustration of sculpin

• sculpin 1

Examples of sculpin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In Kobuk Valley National Park in Alaska, a tributary to the Akillik River lost all its juvenile Dolly Varden and slimy sculpin fish after an abrupt increase in stream acidity when the stream turned orange. —Matthew L. Druckenmiller, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 2025

First to show symptoms are the trout, sculpin and other fish swimming in this section of the cold-water stream. —Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025

Bear Lake is also home to four endemic fish species: the Bear Lake sculpin, Bear Lake whitefish, the Bonneville whitefish, and the Bonneville cisco. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2025

As the boat crescendoed over waves, seagulls screamed in chase, and the captain made radar promises over the loudspeaker: bass, bonito and sculpin — or at the very least, mackerel and pelicans. —Jacqueline Carr, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sculpin

noun

scul·​pin ˈskəl-pən 

plural sculpins also sculpin

1

: any of numerous spiny large-headed usually scaleless fishes with fanlike fins

2

: a fish of the southern California coast that has poisonous spines on the fin on the back and is caught for food and sport