mackerel

noun

mack·​er·​el ˈma-k(ə-)rəl 

plural mackerel or mackerels

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

Illustration of mackerel

• mackerel 1

Examples of mackerel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Fatty Fish Fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines, are among the richest natural sources of vitamin D3, the form most easily used by the body, Morgan Walker, MS, RD, LDN, a sports nutritionist and adjunct professor at Lebanon Valley College, told Health. —Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 11 Dec. 2025

Eat fish regularly, such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel, to reap the health benefits of omega-3 fats. —Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 8 Dec. 2025

Simply make a reservation and let chef Soichi Kadoya do the rest—diners may get the chance to enjoy prime bites of Hokkaido pike mackerel, miso marinated sea bass, and Spanish bluefin tuna. —Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2025

All of that brings us back to the anchovy, along with fish such as the sardine and mackerel. —New Atlas, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English makerel, from Anglo-French

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mackerel

• Atka mackerel
• holy mackerel
• horse mackerel
• jack mackerel
• king mackerel
• mackerel shark
• mackerel sky
• Spanish mackerel

Kids Definition

mackerel

noun

mack·​er·​el ˈmak-(ə-)rəl 

plural mackerel or mackerels

1

: a North Atlantic food fish that is green with blue bars above and silvery below

2

: any of various usually small or medium-sized fishes related to the mackerel