tilapia
noun
ti·la·pia
tə-ˈlä-pē-ə 
-ˈlā-
plural tilapia also tilapias
: any of numerous chiefly African freshwater cichlid fishes (genera Oreochromis, Tilapia, and Sarotherodon) often raised for food
Examples of tilapia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The fish ponds are no longer catch-and-release, the invasive tilapia that swim in them (and that guests catch) are now fed to rehabbed seals at a nearby animal sanctuary.
—
Hugh Garvey, Sunset Magazine, 6 Nov. 2023
For those with a shellfish allergy, tilapia or snapper filets make a lovely substitute.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2023
Inspired by colleagues in a dozen other specialties, Mirza Melo, a veterinary ophthalmologist in northeastern Brazil's Ceará state, tested tilapia skin to treat a pervasive problem in her field: corneal ulcers and perforations, particularly in dogs with short snouts.
—Jill Langlois, Scientific American, 9 Sep. 2023
Unlike the smooth, dark meat of common carp, Asian carp have a flaky, white meat that’s low in fat and similar in flavor and texture (if not better than, some would say) to tilapia and catfish.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 9 Aug. 2023
After cooking and eating tilapia purchased from a local market in July, Laura Barajas, 40, fell ill almost immediately.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 18 Sep. 2023
Next to the barrel, minnow-sized tilapia swim in a smaller fish tank.
—Karina Elwood, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2023
For those who don't want fried food, there is grilled salmon and tilapia.
—Moby Dick, The Courier-Journal, 20 Feb. 2023
Nearby, tomatoes, onions and herbs grow in soil enriched with the tilapias’ waste.
—oregonlive, 17 June 2023
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Hugh Garvey, Sunset Magazine, 6 Nov. 2023
For those with a shellfish allergy, tilapia or snapper filets make a lovely substitute.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2023
Inspired by colleagues in a dozen other specialties, Mirza Melo, a veterinary ophthalmologist in northeastern Brazil's Ceará state, tested tilapia skin to treat a pervasive problem in her field: corneal ulcers and perforations, particularly in dogs with short snouts.
—Jill Langlois, Scientific American, 9 Sep. 2023
Unlike the smooth, dark meat of common carp, Asian carp have a flaky, white meat that’s low in fat and similar in flavor and texture (if not better than, some would say) to tilapia and catfish.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 9 Aug. 2023
After cooking and eating tilapia purchased from a local market in July, Laura Barajas, 40, fell ill almost immediately.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 18 Sep. 2023
Next to the barrel, minnow-sized tilapia swim in a smaller fish tank.
—Karina Elwood, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2023
For those who don't want fried food, there is grilled salmon and tilapia.
—Moby Dick, The Courier-Journal, 20 Feb. 2023
Nearby, tomatoes, onions and herbs grow in soil enriched with the tilapias’ waste.
—oregonlive, 17 June 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tilapia.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, genus name
First Known Use
1849, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near tilapia
Cite this Entry
“Tilapia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tilapia. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on tilapia
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tilapia
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