goldfish

gold-fish · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A small orange or golden-yellow freshwater fish (Carassius auratus), commonly kept as a pet in aquariums or outdoor ponds.

  2. 2.

    (informal) A person with a very short attention span or memory.

Forms

plural: goldfish

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    goldfish bowl — A round glass container for fish; also, a situation with no privacy
  • •
    memory of a goldfish — An extremely short memory (though goldfish actually have better memories than popularly believed)
  • •
    goldfish attention span — Very limited ability to concentrate

Related words

See also: aquarium, carp, fish, pet
Synonyms: pet fish

Etymology

A compound of gold + fish, named for the characteristic golden-orange color. Goldfish were first domesticated in China over a thousand years ago and brought to Europe in the 17th century.