jellyfish

[ jel-ee-fish ]

noun

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

1. any of various marine coelenterates of a soft, gelatinous structure, especially one with an umbrellalike body and long, trailing tentacles; medusa.
2. Informal. a person without strong resolve or stamina; an indecisive or weak person.

jellyfish

/ ˈdʒɛlɪˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any marine medusoid coelenterate of the class Scyphozoa, having a gelatinous umbrella-shaped body with trailing tentacles
2. any other medusoid coelenterate
3. informal.
   a weak indecisive person

Word History and Origins

Origin of jellyfish¹

1700–10; 1910–15 jellyfish fordef 2; jelly + fish

Example Sentences

To avoid being eaten, the mollusk hides with its transparent body and makes a quick escape by quickly closing its oral hood, similar to the movements of a jellyfish.

From Los Angeles Times

The open ocean is home to whales, turtles and jellyfish.

From Los Angeles Times

One brave fan came dressed as a jellyfish.

From BBC

Left in the wild, their mangled remains entangle birds and choke sea turtles that mistake them for edible jellyfish.

From Salon

The research involves salps, small creatures that look similar to jellyfish that take a nightly journey from the depths of the ocean to the surface.

From Science Daily

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