noun, plural (especially collectively) cat·fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) cat·fish·es.
- any of the numerous fishes of the order or suborder Nematognathi (or Siluroidei), characterized by barbels around the mouth and the absence of scales.
- a wolffish of the genus Anarhichas.
- any of various other fishes having a fancied resemblance to a cat.
- 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)
- 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.
noun plural -fish or -fishes
- 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
- another name for wolffish
1610s, from cat (n.) + fish (n.). Probably so called for its “whiskers.”