mackerel

noun

mack·er·el | \ ˈma-k(ə-)rəl

plural mackerel or mackerels

Definition of mackerel

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

Examples of mackerel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Gus was made to forage for meals, pulling chicken from a rawhide wrapper and coaxing a frozen mackerel out of a block of ice. — David Scharfenberg, BostonGlobe.com, "Did humans drive this polar bear insane?," 13 July 2018 An almost silky consistency marks the mackerel that Soogil serves, nigiri-style, over wads of rice that have been seasoned with ssamjang (standing in for wasabi?) and wrapped in chard leaves. — New York Times, "French Skills Meet Korean Flavors at Soogil in the East Village," 8 May 2018 Unfortunately, some types of fish that are omega-3-rich have too much mercury (think mackerel or albacore tuna) or are pricey (such as salmon). — Consumer Reports, Washington Post, "From oatmeal to sardines, 7 foods that really can help hearts stay healthy," 7 May 2018 Rig with wire leader if your target is mackerel or sharks. — Mark Blythe, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Fishing forecast: June 22, 2018," 22 June 2018 In 2007, as Atlantic mackerel moved away from European Union waters toward colder shoals near Iceland, the silvery fish with forked tails precipitated a trade war. — David Abel, BostonGlobe.com, "Fish wars loom as climate change pushes lobster, cod, and other species north," 21 June 2018 Fish varieties include salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring and dried salty cod. — NBC News, "What is the Nordic diet — and why do doctors, dietitians and even psychiatrists like it so much?," 22 June 2018 Keep a bait low in the water column for a shot at wahoo, which will shadow schools of mackerel. — Mark Blythe, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Cental Florida fishing forecast: June 23," 28 June 2018 The mackerel fillets with pistachio and cardamom salsa, which is a simpler take on the flavor profile of my koftas, should be equally untaxing. — Yotam Ottolenghi, New York Times, "When Cooking Is About Ease, Not ‘Easy’," 11 May 2018

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.