clown fish

noun

: any of various small tropical fishes (genera Amphiprion and Premnas) of the Indian and Pacific oceans that are related to the damselfishes, are bright orange usually with one or more vertical white stripes, and live symbiotically with sea anemones

Examples of clown fish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Watch on Disney+ Finding Nemo Nemo (Alexander Gould) is a young clown fish with an imperfect fin and a dad (Albert Brooks) who worries endlessly about his son’s safety. Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 4 July 2024 Below was a dizzying spectrum: harlequin flashes of cobalt and hot pink, gold and silver, as clown fish, trevallies, and parrotfish zigzagged by in a flash. Sunil Badami, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 July 2023 Under the high acidity conditions, the clown fishes were unable to recognize the meaning of auditory signals. Danielle L. Dixson, Scientific American, 1 June 2017 For example, smell was altered for adult sharks as well as juvenile clown fishes. Danielle L. Dixson, Scientific American, 1 June 2017 See all Example Sentences for clown fish 

Word History

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clown fish was in 1957

Dictionary Entries Near clown fish

Cite this Entry

“Clown fish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clown%20fish. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

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