puffer fish

noun

1

: any of a family (Tetraodontidae) of chiefly tropical scaleless marine bony fishes which can distend themselves to a globular form and most of which are highly poisonous

called also blowfish, globefish, swellfish

compare fugu

2

: any of various fish of the same order (Tetraodontiformes) as the puffer fish

Examples of puffer fish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Disrupting this power plant – with the help of a puffer fish – showed a breakthrough way to fight the tumors. —Michael Franco, New Atlas, 13 Feb. 2025

Crystal is a puffer fish and wears shoes that reference Alexander McQueen’s famous armadillo shoes. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025

Put your dive flag out and look for eels, fish, coral, slipper and spiny lobsters, stingrays, puffer fish and starfish. —Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2024

Souza told us about the early islanders’ sophisticated system of aquaculture and pointed out the eel, barracuda, and — excitement! — puffer fish that live in the ponds today. —Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

puffer fish

noun

: any of various scaleless fishes chiefly of tropical seas which can puff themselves up with air or water when threatened and most of which are highly poisonous

called also blowfish, puffer

Medical Definition

puffer fish

noun

variants or pufferfish

: any of a family (Tetraodontidae) of chiefly tropical, scaleless, marine fishes that when threatened can distend themselves to a large, roundish form and most of which are highly poisonous

called also blowfish, globefish

see fugu