whitefish

noun

white·​fish ˈ(h)wīt-ˌfish 

1

a

: any of various freshwater salmonid food fishes (especially of genera Coregonus and Prosopium) that resemble the salmon and trout in having an adipose dorsal fin but have a smaller, often toothless mouth and that inhabit cold lakes and streams of the northern hemisphere see cisco

b

: any of various fishes (such as a menhaden or a whiting) resembling the true whitefishes

c

British : any of various market fishes with white flesh that is not oily

2

: the flesh of a whitefish especially as an article of food

Examples of whitefish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Schmears include classics like lox, scallion, garlic and herb, cinnamon raisin and vegetable, as well as funfetti, olive, tofu and strawberry, with additional spreads and salads such as tuna salad, egg salad, whitefish salad and baked kippered salmon. —Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2024

Many of the dishes at SAGE feature herbs and other ingredients plucked from plants growing on the patio, too, like the Door County smoke whitefish pate or egg salad sandwich with tarragon and microgreens. —Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 11 June 2024

For instance, some fish, like lake whitefish, spawn in the fall in nearshore areas of the lakes where the eggs incubate over the winter. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 11 June 2024

Abundant produce thrives in the hearty Midwestern soil, and the lakes teem with whitefish, walleye, perch, and lake trout. —Christine Chitnis, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

whitefish

noun

white·​fish ˈhwīt-ˌfish 

ˈwīt-

: any of various freshwater food fishes related to the salmons and trouts and mostly greenish above and silvery white below