cod

1 of 3

noun

plural cod also cods
1
: any of various bottom-dwelling fishes (family Gadidae, the cod family) that usually occur in cold marine waters and often have barbels and three dorsal fins: such as
a
: one (Gadus morhua) of the North Atlantic that is an important food fish
b
: one (Gadus macrocephalus) of the Pacific Ocean
2
: any of various bony fishes resembling the true cods

cod

2 of 3

abbreviation (1)

COD

3 of 3

abbreviation (2)

cash on delivery; collect on delivery

Examples of cod in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
In 2024, a three-eyed cod was captured in Greenland. Dan Snierson, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026 The seafood choices features cod, salmon, flounder, shrimp, calamari salad with vegetables and other dishes. Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026 Advertisement Less-fatty seafood varieties, such as shellfish and cod, contain lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids but can still be beneficial. Kathleen Felton, Time, 9 June 2026 The cod is flaky and succulent, falling apart at the lightest touch. Katie Langford, Denver Post, 7 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cod

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cod was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cod. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

cod

noun
plural cod also cods
: a soft-finned fish of the colder parts of the North Atlantic that is a major food fish
also : any of several related fishes

Medical Definition

cod

noun
plural cod also cods
: any of various bottom-dwelling fishes (family Gadidae, the cod family) that usually occur in cold marine waters and often have barbels and three dorsal fins: as
a
: one (Gadus morhua) of the North Atlantic that is an important food fish
b
: one (Gadus macrocephalus) of the Pacific Ocean

Legal Definition

COD

abbreviation
cash on delivery, collect on delivery

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