pelagic
/pəˈladʒ.ɪk/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Pelagic means relating to the open sea, far from land and the sea bottom. It is often used in science, especially for animals and plants that live in deep ocean water.
- Pelagic fish live far from the coast.
- We studied pelagic birds during the trip.
- Some pelagic species travel huge distances.
Adinary Nuance
Pelagic is more specific than sea or marine. Use pelagic for the open ocean, not for beaches, coasts, or the sea floor. Marine is broader, and oceanic can mean the open ocean too, but pelagic often sounds more scientific.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- thuộc biển khơi
- Spanish
- pelágico
- Chinese
- 远洋的
- Japanese
- 遠洋の
- Korean
- 원양의
Etymology
Pelagic comes from Greek pelagos, meaning 'sea' or 'open sea'. It entered English through scientific and literary use in the 19th century.
Common phrases
pelagic zonepelagic speciespelagic fishpelagic waters
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is pelagic a common word in everyday English?
- No, it is uncommon in daily conversation. You see it most in biology, geography, and academic writing.
- What is the difference between pelagic and marine?
- Pelagic means the open sea. Marine is broader and can mean anything connected with the sea.
- Can I use pelagic for animals?
- Yes. It often describes fish, birds, and other animals that live in open ocean water.