killifish

American  

[kil-ee-fish] / ˈkɪl iˌfɪʃ /

noun

killifish, plural killifishes plural

1. any of several small, oviparous cyprinodont fishes, especially of the genus Fundulus, found in salt, brackish, and fresh waters.

2. any of several livebearers.

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killifish British  

/ ˈkɪlɪˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any of various chiefly American minnow-like cyprinodont fishes of the genus Fundulus and related genera, of fresh and brackish waters: used as aquarium fishes, to control mosquitoes, and as anglers' bait

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• killifish
  plural
• killifishes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of killifish

1805–15, perhaps kill ² + -i- (unexplained) + fish

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

killifish killifishes

The Brunet lab has played a leading role in establishing the killifish as a model organism.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 26, 2026

To do this, they used the African turquoise killifish, a species with a lifespan of just four to eight months.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 26, 2026

In addition to Moema claudiae, researchers identified six other species of seasonal killifish in the same habitat.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 25, 2025

It is also an important global center of seasonal killifish diversity.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 25, 2025

The plains killifish was collected by me only at Station 42-S.

From Fishes of the Big Blue River Basin, Kansas by Minckley, W. L.

In addition, there are small killifishes whose closest relatives are found in the Seychelles, and freshwater toadfishes with affinities to species in India.

From New York Times ● Jun. 13, 2011