sardine

noun

sar·​dine sär-ˈdēn How to pronounce sardine (audio)
plural sardines also sardine
1
: any of several small or immature fishes of the herring family
especially : the European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus) especially when young and of a size suitable for preserving for food
2
: any of various small fishes (such as an anchovy) resembling the true sardines or similarly preserved for food

Examples of sardine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Instead, the fatty acids must be obtained from foods such as salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines, walnuts, chia seeds and flaxseeds. Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 18 June 2026 The domoic acid works its way up the food chain, often in anchovies and sardines, which are then eaten by pelicans, sea lions, whales and other animals. Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 15 June 2026 The cabin’s ceilings rose to eight feet—even at the window seats—and the exterior walls stood nearly straight up and down, allowing even the tallest passengers to stand upright, like a human instead of a sardine. Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026 Fatty Fish Provide omega-3 fatty acids Fatty fish, including salmon, trout, sardines, and mackerel, are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sardine

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sardeine, from Anglo-French, from Latin sardina

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

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Cite this Entry

“Sardine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sardine. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

sardine

noun
sar·​dine sär-ˈdēn How to pronounce sardine (audio)
plural sardines also sardine
: any of various young or very small fish often preserved in oil for food

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