sunfish

American  

[suhn-fish] / ˈsʌnˌfɪʃ /

noun

plural

sunfish,

plural

sunfishes

1. the ocean sunfish, Mola mola.

2. any of various other fishes of the family Molidae.

3. any of several small, brightly colored, spiny-rayed freshwater fishes of the genus Lepomis, of North America, having a deep, compressed body.

---

sunfish British  

/ ˈsʌnˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any large plectognath fish of the family Molidae, of temperate and tropical seas, esp Mola mola, which has a large rounded compressed body, long pointed dorsal and anal fins, and a fringelike tail fin

2. any of various small predatory North American freshwater percoid fishes of the family Centrarchidae, typically having a compressed brightly coloured body

---

Etymology

Origin of sunfish

First recorded in 1620–30; sun + fish

Example Sentences

In a photo posted by the Kaikyokan aquarium in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi prefecture, the sunfish is seen swimming in front of photos of human faces attached to a row of uniforms.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2025

McNeish, who has examined the fish carcasses since late August, has identified non-native species including bass, sunfish, bullhead catfish and mosquitofish.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 19, 2024

It’s the latest tactic in an ongoing struggle to keep non-native smallmouth bass and green sunfish at bay below the Glen Canyon Dam and to protect a threatened native fish, the humpback chub.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 18, 2023

Orcas also seem to enjoy penguin breast meat and sunfish intestines, Meyer says.

From Scientific American • Apr. 11, 2023

I catch three pumpkinseed sunfish and a catfish while Bando gathers tender dandelion leaves, chicory greens, and wild carrots for salad.

From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

Related Words

• catamaran
• craft
• cutter
• schooner
• ship
• skiff
• sloop
• vessel
• yacht