noun
monkfish
MUHNGK-fihsh
Monkfish (noun) means a large, bottom-dwelling fish with a big flattened head and mouth, prized for its firm white meat. Example: “The chef pan-seared monkfish tail with a garlic butter sauce.”
noun
1
A large, bottom-dwelling fish with a big flattened head and mouth, prized for its firm white meat.
"I’ve had the good luck to cook monkfish on both sides of the Atlantic. The European monkfish is Lophius piscatorius, while our western Atlantic brand is Lophius americanus."
— Mark Bittman, Roasting Monkfish (2008)
"The chef pan-seared monkfish tail with a garlic butter sauce."
How to use monkfish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn ugly-looking but tasty seafish, often called the "poor man's lobster" for its texture.
Common pairings
monkfish tail
roasted monkfish
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Word forms
- Plural
- monkfishes
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The chef pan-seared _____ tail with a garlic butter sauce.
Etymology
Formed from "monk" plus "fish" — the fish's odd, hooded head was thought to resemble a monk's cowl.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “monkfish” mean?
The word “monkfish” means a large, bottom-dwelling fish with a big flattened head and mouth, prized for its firm white meat. In plain terms, an ugly-looking but tasty seafish, often called the "poor man's lobster" for its texture.
How do you pronounce “monkfish”?
“Monkfish” is pronounced MUHNGK-fihsh (/ˈmʌŋk.fɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “monkfish” in a sentence?
Here is “monkfish” used in a sentence: “The chef pan-seared monkfish tail with a garlic butter sauce.”
What part of speech is “monkfish”?
“Monkfish” is a noun.
