goldfish

[ gohld-fish ]

noun

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

1. a small, usually yellow or orange fish, Carassius auratus, of the carp family, native to China, bred in many varieties and often kept in fishbowls and pools.
2. garibaldi ( def 2 ).

goldfish

/ ˈɡəʊldˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. a freshwater cyprinid fish, Carassius auratus, of E Europe and Asia, esp China, widely introduced as a pond or aquarium fish. It resembles the carp and has a typically golden or orange-red coloration
2. any of certain similar ornamental fishes, esp the golden orfe See orfe

Word History and Origins

Origin of goldfish¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; gold + fish

Example Sentences

The giant purse contains a dead goldfish in a bag, a gun, a smaller night purse and an uncounted Pennsylvania ballot.

From Los Angeles Times

But being in a goldfish bowl can also have the opposite effect, as demonstrated in a scene in a huge Texas steakhouse where the friends stop off for dinner.

From BBC

“We don’t want it to be like, ‘Somebody gave me a goldfish and I killed it within a month.

From Los Angeles Times

Other research suggests that many Americans can only pay attention to one task for 8 seconds — that is less than a goldfish.

From Salon

Craig David sang "we got the Euros in our hands" to the team from his recording studio with a pet goldfish swimming beside him.

From BBC