Dungeness crab

noun

Dunge·​ness crab ˌdən-jə-ˌnes- 

: a large edible crab (Metacarcinus magister) of the Pacific coast of North America from Alaska to California

Illustration of Dungeness crab

Examples of Dungeness crab in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One order of cioppino allegedly feeds two people but could sustain a family of four, packed with exclusively shellfish, including a tangle of Dungeness crab legs, squid tentacles, and petite shrimp. —Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026

If an agreement is reached and weather conditions improve, fishermen could head out as early as Tuesday and return with fresh local Dungeness crab by Wednesday. —Da Lin, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026

For instance, a classic San Francisco cioppino will often include Dungeness crab, which is abundant in the winter season, but it can easily be omitted. —Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025

For it, a whole Dungeness crab is cooked with Tellicherry peppercorn-tomato sauce and served with ghee rice. —Matthew Kronsberg, Fortune, 24 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Dungeness, village on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Dungeness crab

• ab
• cab
• dab
• drab
• fab
• gab
• grab
• jab
• lab
• mab
• nab
• rab