Meaning & use
swordfishes
Last updated
“swordfishes” is a form of “swordfish”.
Meaning
nounplural
Plural of swordfish: large sea fish with a long pointed upper jaw, or their meat as food.
Grammar: This is the plural form of swordfish. It can mean more than one fish, or kinds of swordfish; for the food, use swordfish (uncountable).
Patterns
- several swordfishes
- catch swordfishes
The museum has models of several swordfishes from different oceans.
Local boats caught two swordfishes before noon.
Swordfishes are known for their long, flat snouts.
Common combinations
- grilled swordfish
- We ordered grilled swordfish with lemon.
- catch swordfish
- They catch swordfish far out at sea.
- swordfish steak
- The menu offers a swordfish steak with vegetables.
- a school of swordfish
- A school of swordfish swam past the boat.
Word family
- swordfish noun
- The singular form and the usual plural; also the name of the food.
Commonly confused: swordfishes or swordtail?
swordfishes vs swordtail
A swordtail is a small freshwater fish often kept in tanks; a swordfish is a large sea fish.
Practice
The fishermen brought back three ______ from the deep water.
Choose one answer.
Swordfishes is a correct plural, especially when counting individual fish. Swordfish is also correct as an unchanged plural, but swordfishs and swordfishies are not standard forms.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “swordfishes”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.