goldfish

[gohld-fish]

noun

plural

goldfish ,

plural

goldfishes .

1. a small, usually yellow or orange fish, Carassius auratus, of the carp family, native to China, bred in many varieties and often kept in fishbowls and pools.

2. garibaldi.

goldfish

/ ˈɡəʊldˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. a freshwater cyprinid fish, Carassius auratus, of E Europe and Asia, esp China, widely introduced as a pond or aquarium fish. It resembles the carp and has a typically golden or orange-red coloration

2. any of certain similar ornamental fishes, esp the golden orfe See orfe

Word History and Origins

Origin of goldfish¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; gold + fish

Example Sentences

Kimmel compared the response to "how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish".

From BBC

“This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”

From Salon

Inside the goldfish bowl it can look like Martin is doomed.

From BBC

They don't reside in the goldfish bowl, they are not susceptible to the howls of protest from fans - the players booed off again - so they're distant and maybe more patient as a consequence.

From BBC

When I first wrote about the impact of the fires on dogs, cats, chickens and goldfish, I noted that Anthony Ruffin and Jonni Miller’s dog and two cats were badly shaken.

From Los Angeles Times