silverfish

noun

sil·​ver·​fish ˈsil-vər-ˌfish How to pronounce silverfish (audio)
1
: any of various silvery fishes (such as a tarpon or silverside)
2
: any of various small wingless insects (order Thysanura)
especially : one (Lepisma saccharinum) found in houses and sometimes injurious especially to sized papers or starched clothes

Examples of silverfish 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.
Chapter, one of Hanoi’s newest fine-dining restaurants, offers an exceptional 12-course tasting menu, with ingenious dishes featuring tamarind, scallops, silverfish, duck and venison. Chris Humphrey, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2024 Not only that, insects, including silverfish, termites, and carpet beetles, to name a few, love to feed on paper. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2024 Frequently Asked Questions What attracts silverfish in your house? Sherri Gordon, Health, 7 Sep. 2024 Their extensive repertoire encompasses combating an array of pests, including ants, bed bugs, bees, wasps, hornets, boxelder bugs, cockroaches, crickets, fleas, flies, mice, rats, mosquitoes, silverfish, spiders, stink bugs, termites and ticks. The Dreamer Media, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for silverfish 

Word History

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of silverfish was in 1703

Dictionary Entries Near silverfish

Cite this Entry

“Silverfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silverfish. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

silverfish

noun
sil·​ver·​fish ˈsil-vər-ˌfish How to pronounce silverfish (audio)
: any of various small wingless insects
especially : one that is found in houses and feeds on paper products, clothing, and other starchy materials

More from Merriam-Webster on silverfish

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!