Phrase guide

goldfish bowl

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈɡoʊldfɪʃ ˈboʊl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A transparent bowl in which pet fish are kept.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fish bowl

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any place that lacks privacy, especially a room with a large window facing a public area.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fish bowl

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a transparent bowl in which small fish are kept

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fishbowl, fish bowl

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: aquarium, fish tank, marine museum, bowl

4

noun

Meaning 4

a state of affairs in which you have no privacy

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the president lives in a goldfish bowl

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fish bowl, fishbowl

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: situation, state of affairs

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: kalamalja — bowl in which fish are kept
  • German: Goldfischglas — bowl in which fish are kept
  • Japanese: 金魚鉢 (kingyobachi) — bowl in which fish are kept
  • Polish: kuliste akwarium — bowl in which fish are kept