catfish

[kat-fish]

noun

plural

catfish ,

plural

catfishes .

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

AutoTune and AI are enabling people who lack musical talent to game the system — like audio catfish.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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

Read more on BBC

Rookie running back Jarquez Hunter knows how to break horse and haul in a catfish by hand.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Max Hollingsbee is not the only "catfish" to have appeared in Northern Ireland's courts.

Read more on BBC

"I am careful of catfishes. Everyone comes to ask me if things are a scam," he says.

Read more on BBC

When To Use

What does catfish mean?

Aside from being a delicious kind of river fish, a catfish is a slang term for someone who seduces a person with a false identity online.