Osteichthyes

plural noun

Os·​te·​ich·​thy·​es

ˌästēˈikthēˌēz

in some classifications

: a class or other category of fishes including the lungfishes, crossopterygians, teleosts, and especially formerly the arthrodires and ostracoderms and distinguished from other forms resembling fish by the presence of true bone in their skeleton compare chondrichthyes

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from oste- + Greek ichthyes, plural of ichthys fish

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!