octopus

American  

[ok-tuh-puhs] / ˈɒk tə pəs /

noun

plural

octopuses, octopi

1. any octopod of the genus Octopus, having a soft, oval body and eight sucker-bearing arms, living mostly at the bottom of the sea.

2. something likened to an octopus, as an organization with many forms of far-reaching influence or control.

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octopus British  

/ ˈɒktəpəs /

noun

1. any cephalopod mollusc of the genera Octopus, Eledone, etc, having a soft oval body with eight long suckered tentacles and occurring at the sea bottom: order Octopoda (octopods)

2. a powerful influential organization with far-reaching effects, esp harmful ones

3. another name for spider

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Etymology

Origin of octopus

1750–60; < New Latin < Greek oktṓpous (plural oktṓpodes ) eight-footed; see octo-, -pod

Explanation

An octopus is an eight-legged sea creature. Octopuses are intelligent animals, and have been shown to have great capacity for learning. (However, that doesn't stop people from grilling and eating them.) An octopus is a mollusk, which means it's a distant relation of slugs, snails, clams, and mussels. It's also a cephalopod, an animal with a large head and tentacles or arms. Of the other animals in these categories, octopuses are by far the smartest, and they're also incredibly flexible because of their lack of a skeleton or hard shell, which makes them able to squeeze through tiny spaces. The Greek root, oktopous, means "eight-foot."

Example Sentences

Greg Jackson, head of Octopus Energy, described a "huge jolt" in sales of solar panels and heat pumps, as well as enquiries about electric vehicles and chargers, so far this month compared to February.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

Plant Plan has transformed offices including Octopus Energy's building in Coventry and eateries such as Gail's and Dishoom.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026

The power generated at the United Downs site has been sold to Octopus Energy who will deliver it, via the national grid, to meet the electricity needs of up to 10,000 homes.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

Origin expects an underlying earnings contribution of between breakeven and a A$150 million profit from its share of Octopus.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

But the one constant was this little TV/DVD combo that we toted around with us and an old DVD from the library free shelf: The Mysterious and Fascinating World of the Octopus.

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden

Related Words

• business
• company
• enterprise