seafood

American  

[see-food] / ˈsiˌfud /

noun

1. any fish or shellfish from the sea used for food.

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seafood British  

/ ˈsiːˌfuːd /

noun

1. edible saltwater fish or shellfish

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Etymology

Origin of seafood

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

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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

See Examples For:

seafood

In Sweden, a store owner complained of “terrorism” to a TV interviewer as his workers wheeled out shopping carts full of unsellable frozen seafood and vegetables.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

Staples such as coffee, fish and seafood also increased faster than the overall inflation rate, as did consumer electricity prices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

He said chipping away at opportunities to catch local seafood could mean flying in more fish from Chile or Mexico.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026

He went on to describe what was essentially just a buffet, albeit one with uncommonly excellent seafood, all hauled from chilly waters nearby and eaten at communal tables.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Many of the child mummies exhibit signs of severe anemia, surprising in people who lived on seafood.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

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