Definition

A type of fish that lives in warm, shallow waters and is known for its slender body and silvery scales. It is popular for sport fishing and is also eaten as food.

Example

The fisherman was excited to catch a bonefish during his trip to the tropical island.

Conversation

Have you ever tried catching a bonefish?

No, I haven't! What's so special about them?

They're really fun to catch and taste great too.

That sounds awesome! We should plan a fishing trip soon.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

The word 'bonefish' is formed from 'bone' (from Old English 'ban', meaning the hard structure that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates) and 'fish' (from Old English 'fisc', meaning a gill-bearing aquatic craniate animal). The term 'bonefish' refers to a type of fish known for having a lot of bones in its body.

Memory Tip

Think of the hard 'structure' ('bone') that makes up the skeleton and the 'gill-bearing aquatic animal' ('fish') to remember that 'bonefish' refers to a fish with many bones.

Visually Confused Words