ribbonfish

American  

[rib-uhn-fish] / ˈrɪb ənˌfɪʃ /

noun

ribbonfish, plural ribbonfishes plural

1. any of several marine fishes of the families Trachipteridae, Regalicidae, and Lophotidae, having a long, compressed, ribbonlike body.

2. any of several related fishes, as the oarfish.

3. any of several unrelated but similar fishes, as the cutlassfish and jackknife-fish.

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ribbonfish British  

/ ˈrɪbənˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any of various soft-finned deep-sea teleost fishes, esp Regalecus glesne (see oarfish ), that have an elongated compressed body. They are related to the opah and dealfishes

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• ribbonfish
  plural
• ribbonfishes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of ribbonfish

First recorded in 1785–95; ribbon + fish

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ribbonfish

He said he’d shared the image with an ichthyologist who had identified it as a juvenile king-of-the-salmon, scientifically known as Trachipterus altivelis, which is part of the ribbonfish family.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 15, 2026

To make sure my ribbonfish run straight, I rig them on Boone King jigs.

From Time Magazine Archive

When he fishes for kings along the east coast, he prefers 24- to 26-inch-long ribbonfish.

From Time Magazine Archive

For the generally larger king mackerel found in the Gulf of Mexico, 32- to 36-inch ribbonfish get the nod.

From Time Magazine Archive

Workman uses a blood knot to tie on a 200-yard top shot of 15-pound-test Seaguar Carbon Pro Fluorocarbon fishing line, which he ties directly to the ribbonfish rig.

From Time Magazine Archive