fishbowl

noun

fish·​bowl ˈfish-ˌbōl How to pronounce fishbowl (audio)
1
: a bowl for the keeping of live fish
2
: a place or condition that affords no privacy

Examples of fishbowl in a Sentence

Being a politician these days means living in a fishbowl—every part of your life is open to public view.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
There, on a little cartoony hexagon of green, sat what looked like a fishbowl or snow globe. — Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026 And this gentleman has told me this office is like a fishbowl. — Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 2026 Riding a Zoox is like riding in a fishbowl. — Rakesh Agrawal, PC Magazine, 28 June 2026 Some drink and join, but to others the fishbowl of religion will always be small and alien. — Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fishbowl

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fishbowl was in 1796

Rhymes for fishbowl

See All Rhymes for fishbowl

Browse Nearby Words

fishbolt
fishbowl
fish cake
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fishbowl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fishbowl. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fishbowl

Nglish: Translation of fishbowl for Spanish Speakers

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