: any of a suborder (Scombroidei) of marine bony fishes (such as mackerels, tunas, albacores, bonitos, and swordfishes) of great economic importance as food fishes
scombroid adjective

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Greek skombros mackerel

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scombroid was in 1852

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scombroid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scombroid. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

: any of a suborder (Scombroidea) of marine bony fishes (as mackerels, tunas, albacores, bonitos, and swordfishes) which are of great economic importance as food fishes and are sometimes a source of poisoning due to heat-stable toxins produced by bacterial action on fish with dark meat
scombroid adjective
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!