Illustration of mackerel
- mackerel 1
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
Cite this Entry
“Mackerel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mackerel. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.
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