stickleback

noun

stick·​le·​back ˈsti-kəl-ˌbak How to pronounce stickleback (audio)
plural sticklebacks also stickleback
: any of a family (Gasterosteidae) of small scaleless bony fishes having two or more free spines in front of the dorsal fin and including marine, anadromous, and freshwater forms

Examples of stickleback in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news After delivering a guest lecture on sticklebacks, an unfamiliar fish caught Stanford University researcher David Kingsley’s eye. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 27 Sep. 2024 One stickleback will begin approaching, then wait to see whether another will approach a little closer. Athena Aktipis, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2023 Under such circumstances, Krantz and others have reasoned that if the burros cannot be removed, the stickleback have to be relocated for their own safety. Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2023 Then the first stickleback will go a little further, taking its turn being the one nearest the predator. Athena Aktipis, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2023 See all Example Sentences for stickleback 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English stykylbak, from Old English sticel goad + Middle English bak back; akin to Old English stician to stick

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stickleback was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near stickleback

Cite this Entry

“Stickleback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stickleback. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

stickleback

noun
stick·​le·​back ˈstik-əl-ˌbak How to pronounce stickleback (audio)
: any of numerous small scaleless fishes that have two or more sharp spines on the back

More from Merriam-Webster on stickleback

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!