A fake or stolen online identity created or used for the purposes of beginning a deceptive relationship.
Turns out the girl I thought I met online was just a catfish of a fat old man.
by SilverishGoldNova December 5, 2017
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an individual (real or fake) who uses the Internet, and in particular, online dating websites to lure people into a scam romance. The general goal of a catfisher is financial gain by developing an online relationship with another person and ultimately asking for money. Besides financial gain, catfishers are sometimes people who prey on others and gain pleasure from online communications and manipulation. You also might hear the terms catfish or catfishing. Catfishing targets both men and women.
by exposingcatfishers March 24, 2018
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Catfish is someone who makes a fake account of someone on social media (Instagram, Facebook, tinder) to lure into a relationship with a false identity.
Paul: Yo Ashley! I know youre catfish. Im just playing around with you.
Ashley: Okay! Dont tell anyone! Not even Aman!
by MYNAMEISDONTWORRY May 10, 2017
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Someone who pretends to be someone else, especially on the internet. Found on anywhere from instagram to twitter to chat sites, these people use fake pictures to disguise who they are. A synonym for this in some situations may be "troll" because the majority of catfish out there are simply out to troll others, while others have their own reasons for this approach. Often catfish, once discovered, are faced with people full of annoyance and frustration at being "catfishes"
Matt: Ah man that chick Kasey I liked was a catfish all along. Even the booty was fake!
Mark: Ah duuuuuddeee that sucks lets go get you a real girl with a real booty.
by callmeardilla August 4, 2015
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The phenomenon of internet predators that fabricate online identities and entire social circles to trick people into emotional/romantic relationships (over a long period of time).

Possible motivations: revenge, loneliness, curiosity, boredom

The term catfishing was inspired by the 2010 documentary "Catfish."
Gwen was worried that her online boyfriend was a phoney after she saw a TV program about Catfishing.
by 2Sweet&Naive February 1, 2013
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A catfisher is the name coined to a bottom dwelling human, who spends a great deal of time on the net in various locations, luring people into a falsely based romance. A catfisher uses fake pictures and bogus information. Often has low self esteem and simply is not happy enough with their image to present it to people that they deem out of their league, and turns to faking other people instead. Other reasons for fraudulently representing people include doing it to boosting one's self esteem and playing people they would otherwise not even get to speak to. In short a catfisher is someone who performs the act of catfishing.
Guy 1: Dude, rumor has it that Noah has been going around faking Trevor online.

Guy 2. No way man, that's fucked up! Once Trevor gets word he's gonna kick the snot out of that bass turd catfisher.
by catfishery March 22, 2013
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you think you're talking to a fit bird and your actually talking to a 40-year-old obese plumber called Steve from Dorset who is wanking into a half-full bag of wotsits.
you: hey m, asl?
steve: hey baby, f here who is dtf
you: is this a catfish or am I in a dream!
by platypus mafia July 3, 2018
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