seafood
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of seafood
An Americanism dating back to 1830–40
Explanation
Seafood refers to water-dwelling animals that people kill and eat, such as fish, shrimp, or even octopuses. Seafood is not what happens to your friend if you open your mouth while you’re chewing. Do you enjoy fish and chips? Fried clams? Tuna fish sandwiches? All of these qualify as seafood. It was once fairly common to think of larger sea creatures including whales and dolphins as seafood too, although fewer people eat these animals today. The term seafood can also be used for fish that live in lakes and rivers, rather than oceans; and edible seaweeds like kelp.
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.
Olive oil, nuts, seafood, and other Mediterranean diet staples are often expensive, which can put the Mediterranean diet out of reach.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 16, 2026
Falling fish populations and reduced seafood production could undermine food security for billions of people around the world who depend on the ocean as an important source of nutrition.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026
Wind & Sea soon became an Orange County staple, serving seafood and its self-proclaimed “best mai tai in the world” on Dana Point Harbor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
People start lining up at noon before Friday’s seafood night, $52.95 and up, starts at 3 p.m.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Without any warning, I lean forward and vomit up the seafood feast, heaving until there can’t possibly be an oyster left in my body.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
