catfish

American  

[kat-fish] / ˈkætˌfɪʃ /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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Usage

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.

Etymology

Origin of catfish

First recorded in 1605–15; cat + fish

Example Sentences

In Brazil's southern Pantanal, a rare pale giant otter feeds on a catfish.

From BBC

South Wales Police is investigating, while online safety lawyer Yair Cohen said people who catfish in this way do so because they are frequently motivated by "low self-esteem" and enjoy the power it gives them.

From BBC

Out in the middle of the river, a big old catfish rolled and boiled the water to a white foam.

From Literature

The toothless bottom-feeder, which looks like a prehistoric catfish and can weigh over 200 pounds, has been overfished globally.

From The Wall Street Journal

Frankie Delaney said he got sick after fishing for blue catfish at a favorite spot upriver from Georgetown in January, while sewage was still pouring into the river.

From The Wall Street Journal