Word
pelagic
Phoneticspelag·ic
US/pəˈɫædʒɪk/
UK/pɛlˈædʒɪk/
Definition
adj. about the open sea, far away from land and the bottom of the sea. You use it to describe fish and birds that live in that open water.
adj. relating to the open ocean, away from coastal waters and the seabed. Applies to fish, birds, and other organisms that live in the upper water column of the open sea.
Examples
“Tuna are pelagic fish that live in the open sea.”
“The fishermen leave the coast early to catch pelagic species like mackerel in deeper waters.”
“Unlike bottom-dwelling species, pelagic sharks roam vast stretches of open water, following shifting currents and schools of prey across entire ocean basins.”
Examples
simple
“Tuna are pelagic fish that live in the open sea.”
contextual
“The fishermen leave the coast early to catch pelagic species like mackerel in deeper waters.”
complex
“Unlike bottom-dwelling species, pelagic sharks roam vast stretches of open water, following shifting currents and schools of prey across entire ocean basins.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “pelagic” in context.
Verb
01. classify as pelagic
“Scientists classify tuna and swordfish as pelagic due to their open-water habitat.”
verb + prep + adj
02. define as pelagic
“Species that live entirely in open water are defined as pelagic by marine biologists.”
verb + prep + adj
03. remain pelagic
“The larvae remain pelagic for several weeks before settling near reefs.”
verb + adj
Adjective
04. highly pelagic
“Tuna are highly pelagic, roaming vast stretches of open ocean far from shore.”
adv + adj
Noun
05. pelagic ecosystem
“Plastic pollution poses a growing threat to the pelagic ecosystem.”
adj + noun
06. pelagic fish
“Pelagic fish such as mackerel and herring migrate in large schools offshore.”
adj + noun
07. pelagic predator
“The blue shark is an apex pelagic predator of the open ocean.”
adj + noun
08. pelagic seabird
“The albatross is a pelagic seabird that rarely approaches land.”
adj + noun
09. pelagic species
“Overfishing threatens many large pelagic species in the Atlantic.”
adj + noun
10. pelagic zone
“The pelagic zone covers most of the ocean volume away from coasts.”
adj + noun
11. highly pelagic seabirds and fish
“Conservation plans protect highly pelagic seabirds and fish on migration routes.”
12. large pelagic fish species
“Bluefin tuna are large pelagic fish species prized by commercial fisheries.”
Usage
Typically placed before the noun it modifies.
Real-World Examples
“Life in the pelagic environment—the offshore waters that extend from the sunlit surface through the twilight zone—requires unique adaptations for survival.” “Pelagic red crabs , also known as tuna crabs because they are a favorite prey of tuna, are common off Baja California.” “Pelagic sargassum is a type of brown seaweed that floats on the ocean surface and is naturally abundant in the Sargasso Sea, a region of the subtropical North Atlantic.” Etymology
From Latin pelagicus (and possibly pelagus); from Ancient Greek πελαγικός (pelagikós), from πέλαγος (pélagos, “sea”). By surface analysis, -pelag + -ic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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