seafood

American  

[see-food] / ˈsiˌfud /

noun

1. any fish or shellfish from the sea used for food.

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seafood British  

/ ˈsiːˌfuːd /

noun

1. edible saltwater fish or shellfish

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Etymology

Origin of seafood

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

Explanation

Seafood refers to water-dwelling animals that people kill and eat, such as fish, shrimp, or even octopuses. Seafood is not what happens to your friend if you open your mouth while you’re chewing. Do you enjoy fish and chips? Fried clams? Tuna fish sandwiches? All of these qualify as seafood. It was once fairly common to think of larger sea creatures including whales and dolphins as seafood too, although fewer people eat these animals today. The term seafood can also be used for fish that live in lakes and rivers, rather than oceans; and edible seaweeds like kelp.

Example Sentences

Even tinned fish — one of my favorite budget-friendly pantry luxuries — delivers that distinctive briny quality without requiring a trip to a specialty seafood counter.

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026

Pricing it can be more emotional than steak or seafood, say restaurateurs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

They also specialize in Korean seafood pancakes that are so good.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026

There’s no standard definition of a “carnivore diet,” but it generally means only eating animal-based foods like meat, seafood, eggs and full-fat dairy.

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

Later, we would bring along a second drum, which we would use to make a kind of Robben Island seafood stew.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela