Definition

A type of fish that lives near the bottom of the sea and is often caught for food, including species like flounder and cod.

Example

The fishermen returned with a large catch of groundfish for the market.

Conversation

Have you ever tried cooking groundfish?

Yeah, I love making fish tacos with cod!

That sounds delicious! I usually go for flounder when I cook groundfish.

Flounder is great too; it's so tender and flaky!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Groundfish → The word is formed from 'ground' (from Old English 'grund', meaning the bottom or surface of the earth) and 'fish' (from Old English 'fisc', meaning a creature that lives in water). Groundfish refers to fish that live on or near the bottom of the sea or ocean.

Memory Tip

Think of fish that live on the 'ground' or bottom of the sea — that's why groundfish refers to those types of fish.

Visually Confused Words