lionfish

American  

[lahy-uhn-fish] / ˈlaɪ ənˌfɪʃ /

noun

• lionfishes,
  plural
• lionfish
  plural

1. a brightly striped scorpionfish of the genus Pterois, especially P. volitans, of the Indo-Pacific region, having long, flamboyant, venomous spiny fins.

2. an Atlantic scorpionfish, Scorpaena grandicornis.

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lionfish British  

/ ˈlaɪənˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any of various scorpion fishes of the tropical Pacific genus Pterois, having a striped body and elongated spiny fins

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• lionfish
  plural
• lionfishes
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of lionfish

First recorded in 1905–10; lion + fish

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Compare meaning

How does lionfish compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• scorpionfish vs. lionfish

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lionfish

Sink down to the depths of the ocean in the Caribbean, where scuba divers can explore alongside a Sandals Resort marine biologist to hunt pesky, invasive lionfish.

From Salon ● Mar. 14, 2026

Higher temperatures in the Adriatic Sea are encouraging invasive species such as the poisonous lionfish, while also causing further stress on alpine glaciers that are already shrinking at record rates.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2025

Genetic testing suggests the entire Atlantic population is descended from 10 lionfish that were released in South Florida.

From National Geographic ● Jan. 29, 2024

They turn their noses up at baited lines, so the next best option is spearfishing with scuba gear, which means one lionfish at a time.

From National Geographic ● Jan. 29, 2024

We ate coconut-crusted lionfish and a lionfish nigiri served three ways at Harbor Docks.

From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2023

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