Definition of mackerel
mackerel
ormackerels
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
People Are Reading
Recent Examples of mackerel from the Web
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Britain’s position on everything from mackerel stocks to nuclear waste is being worked out by a civil service whose headcount has fallen by nearly a quarter in the past decade and which has not negotiated a trade deal of its own in a generation.
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Meaning, a detox diet probably isn’t going to help you as much as, say, reducing your intake of foods that are high in mercury (like swordfish and mackerel) and having your water tested for lead.
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While its name hints at the past—a reference to the victualers who once supplied the local ships—its British cuisine remains firmly in the present: a smoked trout terrine with beetroot, Thai-style mackerel and twice-baked cheese souffle.
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But those pouches of mackerel expire in three years.
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Stanczyk has caught goliaths on everything from sharks and cobias to Spanish mackerel and large crevalle jacks.
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Sanders, who’s caught goliaths on mackerel, 5- to 10-pound jacks, half a barracuda and even a spadefish, uses 9-0 to 12-0 hooks, which are typically used to catch marlin and sharks.
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The Felis silvestris species of cat naturally has the narrow stripes known as the mackerel tabby marking.
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When firing up the grill, consider salmon, trout, mackerel, or other fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for the brain.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mackerel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of mackerel
Origin and Etymology of mackerel
Middle English makerel, from Anglo-French
MACKEREL Defined for English Language Learners
mackerel
playDefinition of mackerel for English Language Learners
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: a large fish that lives in the northern Atlantic Ocean and is often eaten as food
MACKEREL Defined for Kids
mackerel
playDefinition of mackerel for Students
mackerel
ormackerels
: a fish of the North Atlantic that is green above with blue bars and silvery below and is often used as food
Learn More about mackerel
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See words that rhyme with mackerel Spanish Central: Translation of mackerel Nglish: Translation of mackerel for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of mackerel for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mackerel
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