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

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Etymology

Origin of ribbonfish

First recorded in 1785–95; ribbon + fish

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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

He makes sure the ribbonfish have been well brined, to draw out moisture and toughen them up, and frozen in vacuum-sealed bags.

From Time Magazine Archive

But, like any natural trolling bait, ribbonfish must be properly rigged and fished to get the most out of them, and their long bodies require special care and preparation.

From Time Magazine Archive

Slow-trolling ribbonfish baits or live hardtails on downriggers around the rig legs is a proven tactic to score big.

From Time Magazine Archive

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