silverfish

noun

sil·​ver·​fish ˈsil-vər-ˌfish 

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

Anything that retains moisture is enticing to springtails, as well as other critters such as silverfish, book lice, and millepedes. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2026

Old or thrifted books can harbor pests such as booklice, silverfish, and beetle larvae. — Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2026

Similarly, silverfish can find their way into these crevices as well. — Mallory Carra, The Spruce, 3 Aug. 2026

Follow these steps to help control and eradicate a silverfish problem in your home. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 9 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for silverfish

• cuttlefish
• jellyfish
• sablefish
• bluefish
• catfish
• codfish
• crawfish
• dogfish
• finfish
• flatfish
• goldfish
• groundfish

Kids Definition

silverfish

noun

sil·​ver·​fish ˈsil-vər-ˌfish 

: any of various small wingless insects

especially : one that is found in houses and feeds on paper products, clothing, and other starchy materials