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

Garr reprised her role twice in the show’s fourth season, in “The One With the Jellyfish” and “The One With Phoebe’s Uterus,” both of which aired in 1998.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

The BBC understands warrants were executed in Norwich at the companies Green Jellyfish and Kirby and Haslam.

From BBC

Green Jellyfish and Kirby and Haslam are both located at the Union Building on Rose Lane in Norwich.

From BBC

Related Words

• coward
• crybaby
• pushover