Illustration of fugu
fugu
noun
fu·gu
ˈf(y)ü-(ˌ)gü 
: any of various very poisonous puffer fishes (family Tetraodontidae) that contain tetrodotoxin and that are used as food in Japan after the toxin-containing parts are removed
Examples of fugu in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Known as ‘the king of winter delicacies,’ fugu stands as a proud symbol of Japanese food culture.
—
Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 17 May 2026
Its newest opening, the 187-room Risonare Shimonoseki, debuted in December on the busy harborfront of Shimonoseki, a food lovers’ destination an hour from Fukuoka and famous for fugu, the notoriously poisonous puffer fish.
—Adam H. Graham, Time, 12 Mar. 2026
In 1984, serving fugu was banned in Japanese restaurants.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
In a studio in Accra, Perfectual Linnan, a fashion designer and founder of Roots by Linnan, recreates the fugu fabric into jackets, trousers and tops designed for everyday wear.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
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Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 17 May 2026
Its newest opening, the 187-room Risonare Shimonoseki, debuted in December on the busy harborfront of Shimonoseki, a food lovers’ destination an hour from Fukuoka and famous for fugu, the notoriously poisonous puffer fish.
—Adam H. Graham, Time, 12 Mar. 2026
In 1984, serving fugu was banned in Japanese restaurants.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
In a studio in Accra, Perfectual Linnan, a fashion designer and founder of Roots by Linnan, recreates the fugu fabric into jackets, trousers and tops designed for everyday wear.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fugu
Cite this Entry
“Fugu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fugu. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
fugu
noun
fu·gu
ˈf(y)ü-(ˌ)gü
: any of various very poisonous puffer fish that contain tetrodotoxin and that are used as food in Japan after the toxin-containing organs are removed
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