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

The laksa lemak—tuna and mackerel in coconut milk with mint, pineapple, rice noodles, chiles, onions and raw greens for $5.50—will linger in your memory, as will its tomato rice, cooked with lemongrass, mint, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, and milk topped with cashews and raisins. —Sharon McDonnell, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Mar. 2023

The panko breading adds satisfying crunch to the flaky mackerel, its mild flavor given just a bit of bite from the lemon squeeze. —Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2025

Its controversial poster featured the show’s participants dining together on foods that could be considered stereotypes; Goode can be seen here, eating a mackerel, referring to a 19th-century slur for Catholics. —Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 26 Mar. 2025

Like the hearty roasted beef chuck served with ratatouille, or the pickled mackerel drizzled with coastal shrimp oil. —Isabelle Kliger, Forbes, 28 Feb. 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