sunfish

1 of 2

noun

sun·​fish ˈsən-ˌfish 

1

: ocean sunfish

2

: any of numerous North American freshwater bony fishes (family Centrarchidae, especially genus Lepomis) usually with a deep compressed body and metallic luster

Sunfish

2 of 2

trademark

—used for a small light sailboat that has one sail

Examples of sunfish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

When are fishing seasons in 2025? Some fish, such as sunfish, are open to catch year-round while others, like walleye, bass and sturgeon, have specific seasons, the Detroit Free Press reported. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 1 Aug. 2025

Using night crawlers either under a bobber or on the bottom can also help anglers catch catfish and sunfish. —Olivia Rose, AZCentral.com, 23 June 2024

Tassone said the pond is home to bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass and sunfish. —Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2025

Visitors can meet various species of sharks, sea otters, sunfish, puffins, sea dragons, clownfish, eels, rays and stunning corals, among many others. —Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sunfish

• green sunfish
• ocean sunfish

Rhymes for sunfish

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

Kids Definition

sunfish

noun

sun·​fish ˈsən-ˌfish 

1

: a very large sea fish that is flattened from side to side and has long fins and a small mouth

2

: any of a family of North American freshwater fishes that are related to the perches, are often brightly colored, and usually have a body that is flattened from side to side