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

Then I’m getting the lime roll, the albacore crispy onion, the garlic sashimi, and I’m going to keep ordering and ordering and be so happy.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2026

"It's unusual because it's been years and years since we've seen this amount of albacore," Quisca said.

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

I picked up only a straggler from the albacore that were feeding.

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

As the sailor spoke, several of the albacores were seen suddenly heading in a direction parallel to the course of the Catamaran and passing rapidly through the transparent water.

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

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

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

There were albacores, and bonitos, and dolphins, and many other kinds of ocean fish, rarely seen, or only upon such melancholy occasions.

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