noun
starfish
STAH-fihsh
Starfish (noun) means a sea creature, not actually a fish, with a body typically shaped like a five-pointed star. Example: “They found a bright orange starfish clinging to the rocks at low tide.”
noun
1
A sea creature, not actually a fish, with a body typically shaped like a five-pointed star.
"They found a bright orange starfish clinging to the rocks at low tide."
How to use starfish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA star-shaped sea animal, often orange or red, that lives on rocks and the seafloor.
Common mistake
Despite the name, a starfish is not a fish — marine biologists often prefer the term "sea star" for this reason.
Common pairings
starfish arm
washed-up starfish
sea star
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Word forms
- Plural
- starfishes
- Third person singular
- starfishes
- Past tense
- starfished
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They found a bright orange _____ clinging to the rocks at low tide.
Etymology
A compound of "star" + "fish," describing its shape, even though it is not a true fish but an echinoderm related to sea urchins.
Frequently asked questions
What does “starfish” mean?
The word “starfish” means a sea creature, not actually a fish, with a body typically shaped like a five-pointed star. In plain terms, a star-shaped sea animal, often orange or red, that lives on rocks and the seafloor.
How do you pronounce “starfish”?
“Starfish” is pronounced STAH-fihsh (/ˈstɑː(ɹ)fɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “starfish” in a sentence?
Here is “starfish” used in a sentence: “They found a bright orange starfish clinging to the rocks at low tide.”
What part of speech is “starfish”?
“Starfish” is a noun.
