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
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
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Noun
There are anchovies and peppers tucked between the sardines and toast; juicy dates and barely-there onions wrapped inside two types of tuna, dark maroon meat with slices of pink belly on top. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026 Live flies landing on food such as tuna, cheese and chicken were cited at three of seven South Florida restaurants temporarily shut down last week. — Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026 Set on Cádiz’s Atlantic coast, the story begins with a woman’s body discovered during a tuna catch. — Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026 Foods in walk-in cooler were above 41 degrees - vodka sauce at 44 degrees, tuna stack at 44 degrees and coconut sauce at 44 degrees. — Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tuna

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of tuna was circa 1555

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tuna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tuna. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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

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