anchovy

American  

[an-choh-vee, -chuh-, an-choh-vee] / ˈæn tʃoʊ vi, -tʃə-, ænˈtʃoʊ vi /

noun

anchovies plural

1. any small, marine, herringlike fish of the family Engraulidae, especially Engraulis encrasicholus, found in the Mediterranean Sea, often preserved in oil and used in salads, spreads, etc., or packaged in paste form.

---

anchovy British  

/ ˈæntʃəvɪ /

noun

1. any of various small marine food fishes of the genus Engraulis and related genera, esp E. encrasicolus of S Europe: family Clupeidae (herrings). They have a salty taste and are often tinned or made into a paste or essence

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• anchovies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of anchovy

1590–1600; < French or Ibero-Romance < Genoese anchua, anchova < Vulgar Latin *apiu ( v ) a, variant of Latin apua (Pliny) < Greek aphýē fry of various fishes

Explanation

An anchovy is a very small, silvery fish. People who eat anchovies enjoy their strong, fishy flavor. While you can buy fresh anchovies from many fish markets, they're most commonly sold packed in small tins, covered in salt and oil. Fishermen often use anchovies as bait for larger fish as well. Even people who don't think they like anchovies are sometimes familiar with the taste, as they're used in Caesar salad dressing and Worcestershire sauce. Anchovy comes from the Portuguese anchova, possibly from the Latin apua, "small fish."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

anchovy anchovies

“If you’re an anchovy lover, this has your name on it,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026

“It had sardines, I believe, anchovy, tuna, and prawns on it,” Skimehorn said.

From Slate ● Nov. 13, 2025

We begin with a gilda, a tiny skewer of anchovy, olive, pickled pepper and a platter of cured meats and cheeses.

From Salon ● Nov. 8, 2025

"The future looks very bleak," said the anchovy fisherman Captain Park, now in his late 40s.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2025

He loved introducing me to special tidbits, and by the age of nine I had developed a passionate taste for cold vichyssoise and caviar and anchovy paste.

From "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath

Originally from Nice, the classic salade Niçoise has just a handful of local ingredients, including tomatoes, anchovies and seasonal greens.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

During El Niño, less cold, nutrient rich water comes to the surface, reducing food availability for marine species such as anchovies.

From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2026

In Britain, which has seen four prime ministers in as many years, the familiar taste of anchovies blended with butter and peppers helps take the edge off.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026

“We’ve shown up for our anchovies over the years through all the highs and lows, and what’s developed recently was the last thing the Fishwife team expected,” the brand said in its statement.

From Salon ● May 28, 2026

If A was for anchovies, then I was glad I got a 8.

From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff