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
Here, a breakfast buffet to beat all other buffets is available, with plenty of fruit, a serious pastry section and a daily changing South Asian offering such as Sri Lankan hoppers or Maldivian tuna curry. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026 Many of the celebrities in attendance at the show appeared at the party, dining on homemade pizza, tuna tartare and Caprese salads. Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Mourmouras was fishing 10 miles offshore in 200 feet of water, when a different top-predator gamefish took his 18-inch squid bait, which was intended for tuna and suspended halfway to the bottom. Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 26 Aug. 2026 The restaurant serves nigiri (like garlic ponzu salmon and sea bream with yuzu pepper), standard sushi rolls (for example, Philadelphia rolls and spicy tuna rolls), gunkan and hand rolls. Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 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

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Cite this Entry

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