51Թ

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catfish

[kat-fish]

noun

plural

catfish 
,

plural

catfishes .
  1. any of the numerous fishes of the order or suborder Nematognathi (or Siluroidei), characterized by barbels around the mouth and the absence of scales.

  2. a wolffish of the genus Anarhichas.

  3. any of various other fishes having a fancied resemblance to a cat.

  4. Slang.a person who assumes a false identity or personality on the internet, especially on social media websites, as to deceive, manipulate, or swindle.



verb (used with or without object)

  1. Slang.to deceive, swindle, etc., by assuming a false identity or personality online.

    He fell in love with her online before he realized he'd been catfished.

catfish

/ ˈæˌɪʃ /

noun

  1. any of numerous mainly freshwater teleost fishes having whisker-like barbels around the mouth, esp the silurids of Europe and Asia and the horned pouts of North America

  2. another name for wolffish

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of catfish1

First recorded in 1605–15; cat + fish
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

There’s also the matter of a giant catfish that carries a bellyful of biblical implications.

From

Eventually the group was able to lift the catfish out of the water with the aid of a couple of weigh slings and a body bag, which they had left over from a Halloween event.

From

The Ogbuagu feasted on traditional dishes such as goat meat pepper soup, nsala soup - made from catfish - pounded yam and palm wine.

From

The endless comments targeted Sweeney, rating her "a five at best," or calling the actress a "catfish" or "butterface" which means that a person has an attractive body but an unattractive face.

From

The profile picture that Morrow used to catfish the victims was actually the image of a man based in Cambridge.

From

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When To Use

What does catfish mean?

Aside from being a delicious kind of river fish, a catfish is a slang term for someone who seduces a person with a false identity online.

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