Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

cuttlefish

American  
[kuht-l-fish] / ˈkʌt lˌfɪʃ /

noun

cuttlefishes plural
  1. any of several cephalopods, especially of the genus Sepia, having eight arms with suckers and two tentacles, and ejecting a black, inklike fluid when in danger.


cuttlefish British  
/ ˈkʌtəlˌfɪʃ /

noun

  1. Sometimes shortened to: cuttle.  any cephalopod mollusc of the genus Sepia and related genera, which occur near the bottom of inshore waters and have a broad flattened body: order Decapoda (decapods) See also squid 1

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of cuttlefish

1400–50; late Middle English codel, Old English cudele cuttlefish + fish

Vocabulary lists containing cuttlefish

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.

Squid and cuttlefish live in environments ranging from deep ocean waters to shallow coastal regions.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

A government review led by Prof Birch in 2021 assessed 300 scientific studies on the sentience of decapods and Cephalopods, which include octopus, squid, and cuttlefish.

From BBC • Jun. 15, 2024

In 1778, British explorer Capt. James Cook was welcomed when he anchored off the Hawaiian islands by locals eager to trade cuttlefish, breadfruit and pigs for nails and iron tools.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 19, 2023

Octopuses, together with squid and cuttlefish, belong to a group of coleoid cephalopods consisting of several hundreds of species that are characterized by highly diversified lifestyles, body structure and adaptations to their environment.

From Science Daily • Oct. 18, 2023

Feuchtwanger's Tooth Paste.—Powdered myrrh, two ounces; burned alum, one ounce; cream tartar, one ounce; cuttlefish bone, four ounces; drop lake, two ounces; honey, half a gallon.

From The Ladies Book of Useful Information Compiled from many sources by Anonymous

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "cuttlefish" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com