1. Small freshwater fish suitable for frying whole in a pan, such as bluegill, crappie, or perch; plural of panfish.
Usage: Chiefly North American; Often used in fishing and culinary contexts

Examples

• We caught a bucket of panfishes at the lake this weekend.
• Panfishes are popular with beginner anglers because they bite readily.
• My grandfather taught me to clean and fry panfishes over a campfire.
• The restaurant serves fresh panfishes with cornmeal breading.
• Kids enjoy fishing for panfishes in the pond near our house.
• Panfishes like bluegill and sunfish are abundant in most freshwater lakes.