lionfish

American  

[lahy-uhn-fish] / ˈlaɪ ənˌfɪʃ /

noun

plural

lionfishes,

plural

lionfish

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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Etymology

Origin of lionfish

First recorded in 1905–10; lion + fish

Compare meaning

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

• scorpionfish vs. lionfish

Example Sentences

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

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

In our southernmost state, lionfish wreak havoc on the food supply of native fish like grouper and snapper and their overconsumption of herbivorous fish results in damage to the reefs that line the Florida coast.

From Salon

"We're not going to eat every last lionfish. There's just no way," explains Roman.

From Salon

Burmese pythons and lionfish are killing off native species.

From Seattle Times