yellowtail
noun
yel·low·tail
ˈye-lō-ˌtāl 
ˈye-lə-
plural yellowtail or yellowtails
a
: any of several carangid fishes (genus Seriola)
especially
: a food and sport fish (S. lalandi) of the Pacific and Indian oceans having a yellow stripe along each side of the body
c
: a snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus) that is a sport and food fish found from Massachusetts to Brazil and is olive to bluish above with yellow spots and a broad yellow stripe along each side of the body
called also yellowtail snapper
Examples of yellowtail in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One of the most beguiling combinations stars firm slices of raw yellowtail in a pool of cucumber juice, fennel and lime — an electric green foil to the buttery fish.
—
Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2023
The scallops, oysters and yellowtail are all from Baja.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2023
The healthiest options will be sashimi made with yellowtail, tuna or salmon ($17 to $19 per plate).
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 12 May 2023
Perhaps a yellowtail, which is a wonderful fish.
—Emily Burack, Town & Country, 2 Dec. 2022
Go for silken agedashi tofu, fried and plunked atop a bed of savory sauce with a sprinkle of fried fish flakes, sizzling rib-eye and shrimp teriyaki and sushi and sashimi platters offering a sea of tuna, salmon, yellowtail and octopus.
—Brooke Viggiano, Chron, 23 Mar. 2023
Clockwise from left: fluke with pickled butternut squash, yuzu kosho, and pepitas; hiramasa, a type of yellowtail, with Asian pear, XO sauce, and shiso; monkfish with potato purée, poached potato, herb purée, and herb salad.
—Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 18 Nov. 2022
Obviously something from the robata grill that sets this izakaya apart, maybe the koji-marinated chicken, or a mackerel, or yellowtail, still tenuously and gelatinously attached to the collar bone.
—New York Times, 26 Oct. 2021
Think: black cod miso, rock shrimp tempura and yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno.
—Dana Givens, Robb Report, 11 Jan. 2023
See More
Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2023
The scallops, oysters and yellowtail are all from Baja.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2023
The healthiest options will be sashimi made with yellowtail, tuna or salmon ($17 to $19 per plate).
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 12 May 2023
Perhaps a yellowtail, which is a wonderful fish.
—Emily Burack, Town & Country, 2 Dec. 2022
Go for silken agedashi tofu, fried and plunked atop a bed of savory sauce with a sprinkle of fried fish flakes, sizzling rib-eye and shrimp teriyaki and sushi and sashimi platters offering a sea of tuna, salmon, yellowtail and octopus.
—Brooke Viggiano, Chron, 23 Mar. 2023
Clockwise from left: fluke with pickled butternut squash, yuzu kosho, and pepitas; hiramasa, a type of yellowtail, with Asian pear, XO sauce, and shiso; monkfish with potato purée, poached potato, herb purée, and herb salad.
—Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 18 Nov. 2022
Obviously something from the robata grill that sets this izakaya apart, maybe the koji-marinated chicken, or a mackerel, or yellowtail, still tenuously and gelatinously attached to the collar bone.
—New York Times, 26 Oct. 2021
Think: black cod miso, rock shrimp tempura and yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno.
—Dana Givens, Robb Report, 11 Jan. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'yellowtail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1622, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing yellowtail
Dictionary Entries Near yellowtail
Cite this Entry
“Yellowtail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yellowtail. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.
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