mackerel

noun

mack·​er·​el ˈma-k(ə-)rəl 

plural mackerel or mackerels

1

: a scombroid fish (Scomber scombrus of the family Scombridae) of the North Atlantic that is green above with dark blue bars and silvery below and is a commercially important food fish

2

: any of various fishes (such as the wahoo and king mackerel) in the same family as the mackerel especially when distinguished from the related bonito or tuna by a comparatively smaller size

Illustration of mackerel

• mackerel 1

Examples of mackerel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Richer fish like mackerel and swordfish will work too, but bring a stronger flavor. —Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Mar. 2026

Salmon, sardines, mackerel, trout and anchovies are especially high in these beneficial fats. —Leeann Weintraub, Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026

King mackerel contains much higher levels of mercury and is generally recommended to be avoided. —Lindsey Desoto, Health, 11 Mar. 2026

Over the course of the long, strange night, the chef seared a nature film's worth of seafood, all of it local—mackerel, king crab, live abalone, and fat scallops in their shells cultivated in nearby Lake Saroma. —Alex Halberstadt, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English makerel, from Anglo-French

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mackerel

• Atka mackerel
• holy mackerel
• horse mackerel
• jack mackerel
• king mackerel
• mackerel shark
• mackerel sky
• Spanish mackerel

Kids Definition

mackerel

noun

mack·​er·​el ˈmak-(ə-)rəl 

plural mackerel or mackerels

1

: a North Atlantic food fish that is green with blue bars above and silvery below

2

: any of various usually small or medium-sized fishes related to the mackerel