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betta

American  
[bet-uh] / ˈbɛt ə /

betta British  
/ ˈbɛtə /

noun

  1. another name for fighting fish

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of betta

1925–30; < New Latin < ?


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

As in most of the director’s movies, the characters behave like preening betta fish.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

Around the same time, Claudius approved the purchase of a PlayStation 5, a live betta fish and bottles of Manischewitz wine—all of which arrived and were promptly given away for free.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 2025

At first she kept every angelfish, betta and gourami.

From New York Times ● Mar. 17, 2023

In 2018, a customer service team at the Denver International Airport looked after a woman’s pink betta fish for several days while she took a vacation to California.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 30, 2022

After dis, you betta come git uh job uh work out dere lak de rest uh de women—so Ah won’t be losin’ time cornin’ home.”

From "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston

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