butterflyfish

[ buht-er-flahy-fish ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) but·ter·fly·fish·es, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) but·ter·fly·fish.

1. any tropical marine fish of the family Chaetodontidae, having large, broad fins or brilliant coloration, or both.
2. flying gurnard.
3. a blenny, Blennius ocellaris, of Europe.

butterflyfish

noun

1. any small tropical marine percoid fish of the genera Chaetodon, Chelmon , etc, that has a deep flattened brightly coloured or strikingly marked body and brushlike teeth: family Chaetodontidae See also angelfish

Word History and Origins

Origin of butterflyfish¹

First recorded in 1730–40; butterfly + fish

Example Sentences

“That’s helped to accelerate the number of species that we’ve been able to raise in during that time and the variety of species too,” he said, highlighting species such as wrasses, butterflyfish and tangs.

From Seattle Times

From the docks, Peixoto can step into her dive boat and motor out to a shallow reef 10 minutes away, where schools of golden butterflyfish cruise over decades-old coral monoliths on the seafloor.

From Scientific American

Highlights include the spot fin butterflyfish, yellow tang and Banggai cardinalfish.

From Washington Post

If a butterflyfish strays too far from its own kind, it may have trouble finding a mate of its own species.

From New York Times

Don a mask and dip into the water, and you’ll find yourself amid schools of yellow tang, bright turquoise parrot fish and butterflyfish.

From New York Times