dogfish

noun

dog·​fish ˈdȯg-ˌfish How to pronounce dogfish (audio)
: any of various usually small bottom-dwelling sharks (as of the families Squalidae, Carcharhinidae, and Scyliorhinidae) that often appear in schools near shore, prey chiefly on fish and invertebrates, and are a valuable food source

Examples of dogfish 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.
The five most common are the sandbar shark, bull shark, sand tiger shark, smooth dogfish and spiny dogfish. Irit Skulnik, Baltimore Sun, 22 July 2025 Dusky smooth-hound sharks (a.k.a. smooth dogfish) have blunt teeth capable only of eating soft-bodied animals. Hans Walters, New York Daily News, 19 July 2025 That means rays and smooth dogfish sharks are exempt from the ban. Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2025 Rays and smooth dogfish have more abundant populations. Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for dogfish

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dogfish was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dogfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dogfish. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

dogfish

noun
dog·​fish -ˌfish How to pronounce dogfish (audio)
: any of various small sharks that often appear in schools near shore

Medical Definition

dogfish

noun
dog·​fish -ˌfish How to pronounce dogfish (audio)
: any of various small sharks (as of the families Squalidae, Carcharhinidae, and Scyliorhinidae) that often appear in schools near shore, prey chiefly on fish and invertebrates, and are a valuable food source

More from Merriam-Webster on dogfish

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!