pupfish

noun

pup·​fish ˈpəp-ˌfish How to pronounce pupfish (audio)
: any of several killifishes (especially genus Cyprinodon of the family Cyprinodontidae) especially of warm streams and springs of the western U.S.

Examples of pupfish 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.
Tucked at the base of a ridge of ragged, jagged bare rock and fringed by cattails, Ayer Lake is home for the endangered desert pupfish and the Gila topminnow. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 26 Oct. 2024 The deal was almost derailed by concerns over a pupfish that has taken up residence in Imperial Valley irrigation drains. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2024 And yet, improbably, Devils Hole pupfish are thriving. Alexander Nazaryan, New York Times, 9 May 2024 Some pupfish could die if Imperial farmers send less Colorado River water onto their fields, resulting in less runoff. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for pupfish 

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pupfish was in 1949

Dictionary Entries Near pupfish

Cite this Entry

“Pupfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pupfish. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on pupfish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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