Illustration of sculpin
- sculpin 1
plural sculpins also sculpin
1
: any of a superfamily (Cottoidea) of spiny large-headed usually bottom-dwelling often scaleless bony fishes with large fanlike pectoral fins
2
: a scorpion fish (Scorpaena guttata) of the southern California coast caught for food and sport
Examples of sculpin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The flathead sculpin, commonly known as the blobfish, gained widespread popularity after it was named the world's ugliest animal during the 2013 British Science Festival.
—
Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025
Several green and hawksbill turtles are darting in and out of a vibrant coral cliff with seemingly millions of species, from sculpins to sun coral and everything in between.
—Scott Bay, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Mar. 2024
The sculpin hat, or Wéix’ s’áaxw in Tlingit, had been at the museum since the 1880s.
—Rachel Parsons, Scientific American, 29 June 2022
But on February 14, ODNR Communications Director Stephanie O’Grady told the Columbus Dispatch that most of the fish appeared to be suckers, darters, and sculpins.
—Travis Hall, Field & Stream, 27 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for sculpin
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025
Several green and hawksbill turtles are darting in and out of a vibrant coral cliff with seemingly millions of species, from sculpins to sun coral and everything in between.
—Scott Bay, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Mar. 2024
The sculpin hat, or Wéix’ s’áaxw in Tlingit, had been at the museum since the 1880s.
—Rachel Parsons, Scientific American, 29 June 2022
But on February 14, ODNR Communications Director Stephanie O’Grady told the Columbus Dispatch that most of the fish appeared to be suckers, darters, and sculpins.
—Travis Hall, Field & Stream, 27 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for sculpin
Cite this Entry
“Sculpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sculpin. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sculpin
noun
scul·pin
ˈskəl-pən 
plural sculpins also sculpin
1
: any of numerous spiny large-headed usually scaleless fishes with fanlike fins
2
: a fish of the southern California coast that has poisonous spines on the fin on the back and is caught for food and sport
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share