octopus
noun
any octopod of the genus Octopus, having a soft, oval body and eight sucker-bearing arms, living mostly at the bottom of the sea.
octopuses
-
pluralof octopus.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
Perhaps the most impressive discoveries are animal “cities,” including two assemblies of octopuses, dubbed Octopolis and Octlantis, found off the east coast of Australia.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
Some octopuses even climbed over the side of the box to reach the location of the projected image rather than swimming around it.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 5, 2026
For the tiny blue octopus, the scans provided clear views of internal organs and mouth structures, allowing scientists to officially classify it as a new species and better understand its relationship to other octopuses.
From Science Daily ● May 25, 2026
Tracing the origins of octopuses has long been difficult because their soft bodies rarely fossilize.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 25, 2026
Though it’s etymologically illegitimate, octopi is now so common that dictionaries list it as a second choice after octopuses.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
