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
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Chris Larsen, co-founder of Ripple and head of the Clean Break Fund, is pushing for changes to the way California manages its commercial Dungeness crab season. Da Lin, CBS News, 3 May 2026 Garrison personally delivered Dungeness crab and black truffle to start, followed by a sturgeon and split pea dish inspired by his wife's love for the soup. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026 Get dinner for two with appetizers, a Dungeness crab, garlic noodles, dessert and wine or beer for $118. Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026 Three years later, Del Popolo expanded to its Bush Street location, serving naturally leavened, Neapolitan-style pizza alongside antipasti offerings like citrus salad and local Dungeness crab. Lucy Hodgman, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Mar. 2026 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 14 May. 2026.

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