silverfish

noun

sil·​ver·​fish ˈsil-vər-ˌfish How to pronounce silverfish (audio)
1
: any of various silvery fishes (such as a tarpon or silverside)
2
: any of various small wingless insects (order Thysanura)
especially : one (Lepisma saccharinum) found in houses and sometimes injurious especially to sized papers or starched clothes

Examples of silverfish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Not only that, insects, including silverfish, termites, and carpet beetles, to name a few, love to feed on paper. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2024 Frequently Asked Questions What attracts silverfish in your house? Sherri Gordon, Health, 7 Sep. 2024 Their extensive repertoire encompasses combating an array of pests, including ants, bed bugs, bees, wasps, hornets, boxelder bugs, cockroaches, crickets, fleas, flies, mice, rats, mosquitoes, silverfish, spiders, stink bugs, termites and ticks. The Dreamer Media, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2024 Besides being a general nuisance, cockroaches and flies can spread diseases such as salmonella and dysentery, while termites, silverfish and ants chip away at the structure of your home. Lori Keong, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2023 See all Example Sentences for silverfish 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'silverfish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of silverfish was in 1703

Dictionary Entries Near silverfish

Cite this Entry

“Silverfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silverfish. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

silverfish

noun
sil·​ver·​fish ˈsil-vər-ˌfish How to pronounce silverfish (audio)
: any of various small wingless insects
especially : one that is found in houses and feeds on paper products, clothing, and other starchy materials

More from Merriam-Webster on silverfish

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