sunfish

American  

[suhn-fish] / ˈsʌnˌfɪʃ /

noun

plural

sunfish,

plural

sunfishes

1. the ocean sunfish, Mola mola.

2. any of various other fishes of the family Molidae.

3. any of several small, brightly colored, spiny-rayed freshwater fishes of the genus Lepomis, of North America, having a deep, compressed body.

---

sunfish British  

/ ˈsʌnˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any large plectognath fish of the family Molidae, of temperate and tropical seas, esp Mola mola, which has a large rounded compressed body, long pointed dorsal and anal fins, and a fringelike tail fin

2. any of various small predatory North American freshwater percoid fishes of the family Centrarchidae, typically having a compressed brightly coloured body

---

Etymology

Origin of sunfish

First recorded in 1620–30; sun + fish

Example Sentences

Its grand prize is a rainbow sunfish, and as far as giant stuffed animals go, it’s one of the nicest.

From Literature

But we were apt to catch sunfish and cat too small to keep.

From Literature

Some shared photos and videos of they had taken of the sunfish on previous visits, and others promised to go and see it when the aquarium reopened.

From BBC

McNeish, who has examined the fish carcasses since late August, has identified non-native species including bass, sunfish, bullhead catfish and mosquitofish.

From Los Angeles Times

Other winners of a slimy new epoch would be ocean sunfish, a giant bony fish whose individuals can clock in at more than 2,000 pounds and consume jellyfish — and velella — in mass quantities.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• catamaran
• craft
• cutter
• schooner
• ship
• skiff
• sloop
• vessel
• yacht