damselfishEnglishOxford New American Dictionarydamselfish /ˈdamzəlˌfiSH, ˈdæmzəlˌfɪʃ / ▸ noun (plural same or damselfishes) a small brightly colored tropical fish that lives in or near coral reefs. Chromis and other genera, family Pomacentridae: numerous species, in particular C. chromis.