Malacopterygii

plural noun

Mal·​a·​cop·​te·​ryg·​ii

ˌ-¦rijēˌī

in some classifications

: an extensive division of teleost fishes having soft fin rays

malacopterygious

-¦rij(ē)əs

adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from malac- + -pterygii

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!