Dungeness crab

noun

Dunge·​ness crab ˌdən-jə-ˌnes- How to pronounce Dungeness crab (audio)
: a large edible crab (Metacarcinus magister) of the Pacific coast of North America from Alaska to California

Illustration of Dungeness crab

Illustration of dungeness crab

Examples of Dungeness crab in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 Three ounces of cooked Dungeness crab has almost 70% of the daily recommended copper, and a 3-ounce piece of salmon has 30%.1 3. Rena Goldman, Health, 22 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Dungeness crab

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Dungeness crab was in 1896

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Cite this Entry

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

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