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

The good news is no—silverfish are not at all dangerous to humans. — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 17 June 2026

Eliminating clutter in unoccupied areas can reduce their appeal to spiders, along with controlling any indoor food sources like crickets, cockroaches, and silverfish, says Gordon. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 21 May 2026

Moths, silverfish, and carpet beetles thrive in dark, undisturbed places. — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2026

The animals venture into the open water to hunt lanternfish, Antarctic silverfish, and squid. — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 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