Illustration of octopus
- octopus 1
octopus
noun
oc·to·pus
ˈäk-tə-pəs 
-ˌpu̇s
plural octopuses or octopi
ˈäk-tə-ˌpī
1
plural also octopodes
äk-ˈtä-pə-ˌdēz
-ˈtō-
: any of a genus (Octopus) of cephalopod mollusks that have eight muscular arms equipped with two rows of suckers
broadly
: any octopod excepting the paper nautilus
2
: something that resembles an octopus especially in having many centrally directed branches
an octopus of a corporation which lends, buys, produces, and sells—
Atlantic
Atlantic
Examples of octopus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Korean researchers have developed an advanced soft robot, OCTOID, inspired by the multifunctional abilities of octopuses.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2025
Since the Ice Age, elkhorn and staghorn corals off Florida’s southern coast have been stacking their skeletons into elaborate, branching homes for parrotfish, eels and octopuses.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
Art and Commerce The Vuitton stand at Art Basel is likewise dominated by an eight-meter-high sculpture of an octopus, inspired by Chinese lanterns, which Murakami described as a way of countering potential criticism of his ongoing practice of blurring his art practice with his brand collaborations.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025
Just like you and me, octopuses are totally themselves and not anyone in between.
—Kate Siber, Outside, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for octopus
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Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2025
Since the Ice Age, elkhorn and staghorn corals off Florida’s southern coast have been stacking their skeletons into elaborate, branching homes for parrotfish, eels and octopuses.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
Art and Commerce The Vuitton stand at Art Basel is likewise dominated by an eight-meter-high sculpture of an octopus, inspired by Chinese lanterns, which Murakami described as a way of countering potential criticism of his ongoing practice of blurring his art practice with his brand collaborations.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025
Just like you and me, octopuses are totally themselves and not anyone in between.
—Kate Siber, Outside, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for octopus
Cite this Entry
“Octopus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/octopus. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
octopus
noun
oc·to·pus
ˈäk-tə-pəs
plural octopuses or octopi
-ˌpī
1
: any of various sea mollusks that are cephalopods having eight muscular arms with two rows of suckers which hold objects (as its prey)
2
: something suggestive of an octopus
especially
: a powerful grasping organization with many branches
Etymology
from scientific Latin Octopod-, Octopus "octopus," from Greek oktōpous, literally, "eight-footed," from oktō "eight" and pous "foot"
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