octopus

noun

oc·​to·​pus ˈäk-tə-pəs 

-ˌpu̇s

plural octopuses or octopi ˈäk-tə-ˌpī 

1

plural also octopodes äk-​ˈtä-​pə-​ˌdēz 

-​ˈtō-

: any of a genus (Octopus) of cephalopod mollusks that have eight muscular arms equipped with two rows of suckers

broadly : any octopod excepting the paper nautilus

2

: something that resembles an octopus especially in having many centrally directed branches

an octopus of a corporation which lends, buys, produces, and sells

—Atlantic

Illustration of octopus

• octopus 1

Examples of octopus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Still, my octopus over rice was amazing and an open-face smoked salmon sandwich right before landing was a great way to start my day back in New York. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025

Prime Video did green-light her Tomb Raider adaptation last year, and she was confirmed to be narrating a documentary series about an octopus for the streaming service on March 3. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2025

The award-winning My Octopus Teacher follows Craig Foster, a man who forms an unlikely friendship with an octopus in a South African kelp forest. —Colson Thayer, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025

At speeds like that, however, that brave octopus may have been in for one heck of a ride. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Octopod-, Octopus, from Greek oktōpous

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for octopus

• blunderbuss
• platypus
• xenopus
• pithecanthropus
• puss

Kids Definition

octopus

noun

oc·​to·​pus ˈäk-tə-pəs 

plural octopuses or octopi -ˌpī 

1

: any of various sea mollusks that are cephalopods having eight muscular arms with two rows of suckers which hold objects (as its prey)

2

: something suggestive of an octopus

especially : a powerful grasping organization with many branches

Etymology

from scientific Latin Octopod-, Octopus "octopus," from Greek oktōpous, literally, "eight-footed," from oktō "eight" and pous "foot"