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

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

Resembling today’s swordfish or marlin, Aspidorhynchus regularly grew to over three feet long and featured a lengthy, spear-like upper jaw. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Nov. 2025

Its Rhum Room has 140 small-batch rums to pair with fresh sea bass or swordfish crudo from their signature restaurant, Stone. —Katie Lockhart, Vogue, 1 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

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