swordfish

noun

sword·​fish ˈsȯrd-ˌfish 

: a very large scombroid fish (Xiphias gladius of the family Xiphiidae) that has a long swordlike beak formed by the bones of the upper jaw and is an important food and game fish

Illustration of swordfish

Examples of swordfish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Smith said the effect of the moon on fishing was noticed by anglers who went out at night for swordfish, which was popular in South Florida before nearly everyone switched over to daytime swordfishing. —Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 14 Dec. 2025

That’s the result of the creatures’ deep-sea diet of heavy metal-eating tuna and swordfish. —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 24 Nov. 2025

Plates of spaghetti vongole and penne puttanesca were consumed, along with heaping portions of swordfish and prawns, calamari, and clams. —Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2025

The food on offer includes housemade bread, pasta like paccheri with wild boar and buckwheat chitarra, and swordfish and bistecca alla Fiorentina from the grill. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for swordfish

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

Kids Definition

swordfish

noun

sword·​fish -ˌfish 

: a very large ocean fish that has a long swordlike beak formed by the bones of the upper jaw and is an important food and game fish