Illustration of lungfish
lungfish
noun
lung·fish
ˈləŋ-ˌfish 
: any of an order (Dipnoi) of bony fishes that breathe by a modified swim bladder as well as gills
Examples of lungfish in a Sentence
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The ancestor of living vertebrates could likely detect red, purple, blue and green — an ability that was maintained in lizards, birds, lampreys and lungfish, among other vertebrate groups, Wiens said.
—
Molly Herring, Quanta Magazine, 27 June 2025
The gene is normally active in a specific location in the developing limb, as well as the fin of the Australian lungfish.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 14 Aug. 2024
Amazingly, lungfish can remain in estivation for multiple years if water levels don’t return.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
Among fish, lungfish are the closest relatives to humans.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Aug. 2024
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Molly Herring, Quanta Magazine, 27 June 2025
The gene is normally active in a specific location in the developing limb, as well as the fin of the Australian lungfish.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 14 Aug. 2024
Amazingly, lungfish can remain in estivation for multiple years if water levels don’t return.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
Among fish, lungfish are the closest relatives to humans.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lungfish
Cite this Entry
“Lungfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lungfish. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lungfish
noun
lung·fish
ˈləŋ-ˌfish
: any of various fishes that breathe with structures resembling lungs as well as with gills
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