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

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

Specials change weekly: One week a round might be flavored with ube and coconut, then infused with tomato and bonito flakes the next. —Mario Cortez, San Francisco Chronicle, 19 Mar. 2026

The bonito smelled barely of the ocean, clean and faintly salty. —Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026

The barge practically eliminates all possibility of seasickness for those who are inclined to be affected on the live bait boats, and anglers, both men and women, may fish for yellowtail, bonito, barracuda, bass, etc., amid conditions catering to every comfort and convenience. —Eric Duvall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2025

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