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.

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• albacore
  plural
• albacores
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of albacore

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

---

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

For instance, during the heat waves of 2014 and 2015, bluefin and albacore tuna moved northwest.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2023

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

Her umami bomb of an albacore tostada seems less of a Mexico City influence and more of an homage to Peru by way of Nobu and Lima’s Maido restaurant.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 22, 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

While Snowball was speaking, and before he had commenced, the albacores had entered upon a peculiar movement.

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

While angling among the albacores, with the prospect of making a successful troll, they had thought less of it.

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

The only thing to chronicle to-day is the quantities of fish about; nine bonitos were caught this forenoon, and some large albacores seen.

From The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg and Other Stories by Mark Twain

They’ve seed the albacores too; and as they know that these preys on the flyin’-fish, they’ve come down to be nearer thar game.

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

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

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---