catfish: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumNeutral to informal (both meanings). The verb form is very informal/Internet slang.
Quick answer
What does “catfish” mean?
A freshwater or marine fish, typically with whisker-like barbels around the mouth, from the order Siluriformes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A freshwater or marine fish, typically with whisker-like barbels around the mouth, from the order Siluriformes.
A person who creates a false identity or persona on a social media platform, especially for deceptive romantic purposes. This meaning derives from the 2010 documentary film 'Catfish'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The fish meaning is universal. The deceptive person/verb meaning is understood in both varieties due to global internet culture, but may be slightly less prevalent among older demographics in the UK.
Connotations
Identical for the fish. For the deceptive meaning, connotations of online danger, emotional manipulation, and loneliness are shared.
Frequency
The fish meaning is standard. The deceptive person/verb meaning is highly frequent in online/dating contexts but less so in formal writing or older speech.
Grammar
How to Use “catfish” in a Sentence
[Person A] catfished [Person B][Person A] was catfished by [Person B]to catfish as [a different persona]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “catfish” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He discovered she had been catfishing him for months.
- I think that profile is trying to catfish people.
American English
- She got catfished by someone using her friend's photos.
- They catfished him into sending money.
adverb
British English
- (Rare/Non-standard) He operated catfish-ly online.
American English
- (Rare/Non-standard) She was acting totally catfish-y.
adjective
British English
- It was a classic catfish scenario.
- She runs a catfish investigation blog.
American English
- He was involved in a catfish scheme.
- Watch out for catfish profiles on the app.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in cybersecurity or social media trust/safety discussions.
Academic
Used in biology/ichthyology for the fish; in media studies or sociology for the social phenomenon.
Everyday
Common for discussing fishing (US South especially) and extremely common for discussing online dating and social media deception.
Technical
Precise in zoology (order Siluriformes). In IT, a term for a type of social engineering attack.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “catfish”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “catfish”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “catfish”
- Using 'catfish' as a verb without an object (e.g., 'He catfishes' is vague; better: 'He catfishes people'). Confusing it with 'catfishing' the activity (gerund).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal slang, originating from internet culture and the 2010 documentary. It is not appropriate for formal writing.
Yes, the fish meaning is standard in both varieties. The species common in each region may differ.
A 'troll' aims to provoke and upset people for amusement, often openly. A 'catfish' creates a fake identity to form deceptive, often romantic, relationships.
In British English: /ˈkatfɪʃ/ (KAT-fish). In American English: /ˈkætˌfɪʃ/ (KAT-fish, with a slightly flatter 'a' as in 'cat').
A freshwater or marine fish, typically with whisker-like barbels around the mouth, from the order Siluriformes.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't be a catfish.”
- “That relationship was built on catfishing.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CAT with whiskers + a FISH with whiskers = CATFISH. For the online meaning: a catfish muddies the water to hide, just as a person muddies their online identity.
Conceptual Metaphor
ONLINE DECEPTION IS A MUDDY/WATERY HIDING PLACE (from the fish's habitat). THE DECEIVER IS THE FISH (hidden, potentially dangerous).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'catfish' LEAST likely to be used?