noun
Uncommon
Kingston
KIHNG-stuhn
Kingston (noun) means the monkfish, a bottom-dwelling flattened shark also called the angel shark. Example: “The trawler brought in a kingston tangled in the nets.”
noun
1
The monkfish, a bottom-dwelling flattened shark also called the angel shark.
"The trawler brought in a kingston tangled in the nets."
name
1
The capital city of Jamaica.
"Waking up each day in the sweltering heat of Kingston, hundreds of miles away from his friends and family, “it takes me a while to get a grip on reality,” Thomas said."
— Zoe Sottile (2025)
"They flew into Kingston for the reggae festival."
How to use Kingston
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishChiefly a place name — most famously Jamaica's capital; rarely also a name for the angel shark.
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Word forms
- Plural
- kingstons
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The trawler brought in a _____ tangled in the nets.
Etymology
From Old English words for "king's town" or "king's manor," reflecting a settlement historically tied to the crown; many places worldwide named Kingston were named after this English original or after people surnamed King.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Kingston
See all rhymes for Kingston →Frequently asked questions
What does “Kingston” mean?
The word “Kingston” means the monkfish, a bottom-dwelling flattened shark also called the angel shark. In plain terms, chiefly a place name — most famously Jamaica's capital; rarely also a name for the angel shark.
How do you pronounce “Kingston”?
“Kingston” is pronounced KIHNG-stuhn (/ˈkɪŋ.stən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Kingston” in a sentence?
Here is “Kingston” used in a sentence: “The trawler brought in a kingston tangled in the nets.”
What part of speech is “Kingston”?
Depending on how it is used, “Kingston” can be a noun and a name.
Where does the word “Kingston” come from?
The word “Kingston” comes from Old English.
Is “Kingston” a common word?
“Kingston” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Kingston” have?
“Kingston” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the monkfish, a bottom-dwelling flattened shark also called the angel shark.
What is the difference between Kingston the fish and Kingston the city?
These are two unrelated meanings of the same name. Kingston can refer to the monkfish, a bottom-dwelling flattened shark also called the angel shark, or to Kingston, the capital city of Jamaica.
What country is Kingston the capital of?
Kingston is the capital city of Jamaica. It is one of several places around the world that share this name.
Why is the angel shark also called a Kingston?
The angel shark, a bottom-dwelling flattened shark also known as the monkfish, is sometimes referred to by the regional name Kingston. This is a case of a single fish species having multiple common names.
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