noun
swordfish
SAWD-fihsh
Swordfish (noun) means a large ocean fish with a long, flat, sword-like bill, prized as a food fish. Example: “We grilled swordfish steaks for dinner on the boat.”
noun
1
A large ocean fish with a long, flat, sword-like bill, prized as a food fish.
"We grilled swordfish steaks for dinner on the boat."
"One reason, the department suggested, was that affluent New Yorkers were likely to eat expensive fish high in mercury, like swordfish and tuna."
— Nick Fox, Taking Worry Off the Plate (2008)
How to use swordfish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large fish with a flattened, sword-shaped bill, often eaten as steaks.
Common pairings
swordfish steak
grilled swordfish
catch a swordfish
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like swordfish.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- swordfishes
- Third person singular
- swordfishes
- Past tense
- swordfished
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We grilled _____ steaks for dinner on the boat.
Etymology
From Old English sweordfisc, literally "sword" + "fish," named for its long, blade-like snout.
Frequently asked questions
What does “swordfish” mean?
The word “swordfish” means a large ocean fish with a long, flat, sword-like bill, prized as a food fish. In plain terms, a large fish with a flattened, sword-shaped bill, often eaten as steaks.
How do you pronounce “swordfish”?
“Swordfish” is pronounced SAWD-fihsh (/ˈsɔː(ɹ)dfɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “swordfish” in a sentence?
Here is “swordfish” used in a sentence: “We grilled swordfish steaks for dinner on the boat.”
What part of speech is “swordfish”?
“Swordfish” is a noun.
Where does the word “swordfish” come from?
The word “swordfish” comes from Old English. From Old English sweordfisc, literally "sword" + "fish," named for its long, blade-like snout.
