starfish

noun

star·​fish ˈstär-ˌfish 

: any of a class (Asteroidea) of echinoderms that have a body of usually five arms radially arranged about a central disk and feed largely on mollusks (such as oysters)

called also sea star

Examples of starfish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Regeneration is a trick many animals, including lizards, starfish, and octopuses, have mastered. —Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 26 June 2025

If you’re all flowered out, try ocean motifs instead—think seashells, starfish, or your favorite aquatic animal. —Catie Pusateri, Glamour, 17 June 2025

The second was a long gold statement necklace covered in seashells, starfish and pearls. —Raven Brunner, People.com, 30 Apr. 2025

But universities are not starfish, flopping about helplessly on a beach while a cruel child slices off their arms one by one. —Ars Staff, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for starfish

• bluefish
• catfish
• codfish
• crawfish
• dogfish
• finfish
• flatfish
• goldfish
• groundfish
• kingfish
• offish
• redfish

Kids Definition

starfish

noun

star·​fish ˈstär-ˌfish 

: any of a class of echinoderms that have five arms arranged evenly around a central disk and feed largely on mollusks (as oysters)