anchovy
Americannoun
-
anchovies
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing anchovy
South America - Middle School
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South America - Introductory
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South America - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
This is also when I deploy what I lovingly think of as my potions and powders: anchovy, tomato paste, miso, soy sauce, fish sauce, bouillon paste or cubes, mushroom and brown gravy powder.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
Its bug-based protein is used in fish feed, and it’s suddenly cheaper than the main alternative—fishmeal—due to an anchovy shortage resulting from high Pacific temperatures.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
Peru, the world's largest catcher of anchovy, is facing a devastating blow from warming seas that have gutted production, according to industry officials.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
Other descriptions have included it being like a mix of anchovy paste and high-strength cod liver oil.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
In her view, monumental buildings implied a large resident population, but again there were plenty of anchovy bones and little evidence that locals farmed anything but cotton.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
The warming of the ocean surface is forcing anchovies and sardines -- which the mammals eat -- to seek cooler waters, either at deeper levels or farther north.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 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 started with 50-50 anchovies and butter and took it from there,” Stevens said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026
These anchovies were torpedo-shaped and larger than she expected.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
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