catfish

[ kat-fish ]

noun

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

1. any of the numerous fishes of the order or suborder Nematognathi (or Siluroidei), characterized by barbels around the mouth and the absence of scales.
2. a wolffish of the genus Anarhichas.
3. any of various other fishes having a fancied resemblance to a cat.
4. Slang. a person who assumes a false identity or personality on the internet, especially on social media websites, as to deceive, manipulate, or swindle.

verb (used with or without object)

1. Slang. to deceive, swindle, etc., by assuming a false identity or personality online:

   He fell in love with her online before he realized he'd been catfished.

catfish

/ ˈkætˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any of numerous mainly freshwater teleost fishes having whisker-like barbels around the mouth, esp the silurids of Europe and Asia and the horned pouts of North America
2. another name for wolffish

Word History and Origins

Origin of catfish¹

First recorded in 1605–15; cat + fish

Example Sentences

The profile picture that Morrow used to catfish the victims was actually the image of a man based in Cambridge.

From BBC

"He used my image to catfish other girls. And that does make me angry," she said.

From BBC

A teenager blackmailed into sending explicit images to catfish killer Alexander McCartney has told of her anger that he used her photograph to trap other young girls.

From BBC

The 'catfish' is the person who has created the fake persona.

From BBC

Together with his touring band — Eliana Athayde on bass and vocals; Josh Adams on drums; Vic Berger on keys; and Connor “Catfish” Gallaher on guitar and pedal steel — Heidecker has created his most ambitious album to date.

From Los Angeles Times