blue crab

noun

: a large bluish-green edible crab (Callinectes sapidus of the family Portunidae) of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts

Illustration of blue crab

Illustration of blue crab

Examples of blue crab in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Reeling from damage to the mollusk industry, the Italian government adopted a blue crab eradication program in 2024. ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026 When the restaurant itself opens, diners can also expect to see Giancarlo’s take on his grandmother’s spaghetti & blue crab, smothered in Sunday gravy and spaghetti tossed in the same sauce, topped with fresh basil. Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026 Under the right conditions, a single one-kilogram adult can put away four medium-sized blue crabs a day. Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 Under optimal circumstances, a one-kilogram adult can consume four medium-sized blue crabs a day, the experts behind the project say. Gennaro Tomma, Scientific American, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for blue crab

Word History

First Known Use

1763, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of blue crab was in 1763

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Cite this Entry

“Blue crab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blue%20crab. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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