tuna

1 of 2

noun (1)

tu·​na ˈtü-nə 

ˈtyü-

plural tuna or tunas

1

: any of various large vigorous scombroid fishes (as of the genera Euthynnus, Katsuwonus, and especially Thunnus) that are usually dark above and silvery below and include many that are valued as food or sport fishes see albacore, bigeye tuna, bluefin tuna, dogtooth tuna, little tunny, skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna

2

: the flesh of a tuna used for food

grilled tuna

specifically, sometimes tuna fish : tuna flesh that has been cooked and canned

—often used before another noun

tuna salad

a tuna fish sandwich

tuna

2 of 2

noun (2)

tu·​na ˈtü-nə 

1

: any of various flat-jointed prickly pears (genus Opuntia)

especially : one (O. tuna) of tropical America

2

: the edible fruit of a tuna

Examples of tuna in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Put a few slices on your tuna salad sandwich, see what the day brings. —Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Apr. 2026

The menu includes other appetizers from the grill like chorizo, sweetbreads and romanesco and raw bar selections like beef or tuna tartare, octopus carpaccio, hamachi and oysters. —Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026

Items range from Maldivian specialities like tuna curry (kandu kukulhu) to Chinese-style crispy duck salad. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026

After hours offshore, Hicks dragged the 200-plus-pound tuna behind his jet ski all the way through Oregon Inlet and back to shore, where a crowd had already started to gather. —Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

American Spanish, alteration of Spanish atún, modification of Arabic tūn, from Latin thunnus, from Greek thynnos

Noun (2)

Spanish, from Taino

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tuna

• albacore tuna
• bigeye tuna
• bluefin tuna
• dogtooth tuna
• little tuna
• skipjack tuna
• tuna mayonnaise
• yellowfin tuna

Rhymes for tuna

• kuna
• luna
• calluna
• lacuna
• laguna
• tribuna
• varuna
• vicuna

Kids Definition

tuna

noun

tu·​na

ˈt(y)ü-nə

plural tuna or tunas

1

: any of several mostly large sea fishes (as an albacore or bonito) related to the mackerels and caught for food and sport

2

: the flesh of a tuna especially when canned for use as food

called also tuna fish