sardine

noun

sar·​dine sär-ˈdēn How to pronounce sardine (audio)
plural sardines also sardine
1
: any of several small or immature fishes of the herring family
especially : the European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus) especially when young and of a size suitable for preserving for food
2
: any of various small fishes (such as an anchovy) resembling the true sardines or similarly preserved for food

Examples of sardine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, trout, and mackerel are among the best sources. Brianna Tobritzhofer, Health, 4 June 2026 For me, that means sweaty days in the sun with plenty of SPF, picnics in the park sardine-style, and sweltering subway platforms. Sarah Kinonen, Allure, 31 May 2026 What began as a playful offshoot of the sardine girl aesthetic is quickly solidifying into one of this summer’s defining handbag stories. Lauren Fisher, Footwear News, 25 May 2026 On a scorching afternoon in Chicago, some 63,000 spectators - including then-President Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey - were packed like sardines at Soldier Field to watch Germany vs. Bolivia. Juliana Kim, NPR, 9 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for sardine

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sardeine, from Anglo-French, from Latin sardina

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sardine was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sardine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sardine. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

sardine

noun
sar·​dine sär-ˈdēn How to pronounce sardine (audio)
plural sardines also sardine
: any of various young or very small fish often preserved in oil for food

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