albacore

American  

[al-buh-kawr, -kohr] / ˈæl bəˌkɔr, -ˌkoʊr /

noun

• albacore,
  plural
• albacores
  plural

1. a long-finned tuna, Thunnus alalunga, of warm or temperate seas, the flesh of which is valued for canning.

2. any of various tunalike fishes.

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albacore British  

/ ˈælbəˌkɔː /

noun

1. Also called: long-fin tunny. a tunny, Thunnus alalunga, occurring mainly in warm regions of the Atlantic and Pacific. It has very long pectoral fins and is a valued food fish

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• albacore
  plural
• albacores
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of albacore

1570–80; < Portuguese albacora ≪ North African Arabic al-bakūrah the tuna

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Explanation

Albacore is a large tuna fish with a long, silver body, huge eyes, and oversized pectoral fins. As a food, albacore is also known as "white tuna." When it comes to canned tuna fish, albacore isn't the safest type to eat regularly; because it's so large, it contains a high level of mercury. The smaller skipjack is considered a healthier choice. A fully grown albacore weighs over 70 pounds, and it can be found in both tropical and temperate waters. Albacore comes from the Portuguese and has an Arabic root: al bakara, or "milk cow."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

albacore albacores

I’ll always prefer Mom’s barbecued chicken, fried chicken and French fries, but I have branched out, trying an array of new, relatively tamer foods, ranging from albacore tuna to zucchini.

From Salon ● Jun. 15, 2026

Born in Seattle, Kawahara was a professional fisherman who focused on salmon, albacore tuna and halibut.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2025

Rolando Quisca, a local fisherman, also said the heat wave had benefited him, citing an unusual amount of albacore, a fish that lives in warmer waters.

From Reuters ● Aug. 7, 2023

Like the aforementioned albacore tuna, the Local Tide version of a Filet-O-Fish is another memory perfected: golden-panko-crusted Dover sole, melty orange American cheese, butter lettuce, housemade tartar on a not-too-tall brioche bun.

From Seattle Times ● May 25, 2023

Today I’ll work out where the schools of bonito and albacore are and maybe there will be a big one with them.

From "The Old Man and The Sea" by Ernest Hemingway

We say had been seen: for, after swallowing the brace of albacores, the voracious monster had suddenly disappeared, either by diving deep down into the sea, or shooting off to some distant point.

From The Ocean Waifs A Story of Adventure on Land and Sea by Mayne Reid

With glue made out of albacores we caught, to be sure.

From In Clive's Command A Story of the Fight for India by Herbert Strang

The albacores no longer took any notice of the baited hooks; but, instead, commenced darting through the water in various directions, until they had got scattered about over the sea.

From The Ocean Waifs A Story of Adventure on Land and Sea by Mayne Reid

Under the excitement of fear, and occupied in watching the movements of their enemy, Snowball knew there was no chance of the albacores paying any attention to the hooks he had baited for them.

From The Ocean Waifs A Story of Adventure on Land and Sea by Mayne Reid

It is itself preyed upon by other fish,—diodons and albacores; but the shark is merciful to it, as to the pilot-fish, and never interferes with it.

From The Ocean Waifs A Story of Adventure on Land and Sea by Mayne Reid

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