bonito

noun

bo·​ni·​to bə-ˈnē-(ˌ)tō  -ˈnē-tə 

plural bonitos or bonito

1

: any of several swift-swimming scombroid fishes (genus Sarda) that are typically dark blue to bluish-green with dark stripes and a silvery belly, that are intermediate in size between the related mackerel and tuna, and that are valued as food and sport fishes

… the Atlantic bonito not only strikes hard …, the fish is also excellent table fare.

—Star-News (Wilmington, North Carolina)

Pacific bonito are related to tuna and can grow to 20 pounds.

—Allen Bushnell

also : a closely related fish (such as a dogtooth tuna or little tunny)

2

: skipjack tuna

For tuna—bluefin … and bonito—the fishermen … would drag a net between two boats …

—Mark Kurlansky

My mother adopted the habit of offering as a condiment dried bonito flakes …

—Corby Kummer

Examples of bonito in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This offering has a creamy onion and garlic sauce, smoked mozzarella, marinated roasted mushrooms, toasted sesame oil, sesame seeds, green onion, and bonito flakes. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 28 May 2026

One of its popular offerings is the okonomiyaki danish, a twist on Japan’s everything-in-the-fridge savory pancake, here made with roasted cabbage, bonito flakes and sweet-onion Mornay sauce. —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 22 May 2026

Kanazawa’s version uses kombu (kelp), bonito flakes, and soy sauce from the small city of Ono for the broth. —Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2026

Some of the items were even available to taste, like a chicken and waffle (delectable) and a Tonkatsu Dog (even better) that was, more or less, a high-end corn dog featuring the following: a Vienna beef hot dog, panko, Kewpie mayo (whatever that might be), teriyaki sauce and bonito flakes. —Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from bonito pretty, diminutive of bueno good, from Latin bonus

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bonito

• burrito
• capito
• mosquito
• negrito
• incognito
• peto
• veto

Kids Definition

bonito

noun

bo·​ni·​to bə-ˈnēt-ō 

-ˈnēt-ə

plural bonitos or bonito

: any of various medium-sized tunas