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.

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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

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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

The magazine’s list calls chef and owner Brendan McGill’s restaurant a “fairy-tale cabin in the forest” and recommends ordering the seaweed focaccia, albacore crudo, wood-fired potatoes and leeks, sugar-kelp-wrapped king salmon, and the Seabird martini.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 19, 2023

Rolando Quisca, a local fisherman, also said the heat wave had benefited him, citing an unusual amount of albacore, a fish that lives in warmer waters.

From Reuters ● Aug. 7, 2023

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

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

The albacores no longer took any notice of the baited hooks; but, instead, commenced darting through the water in various directions, until they had got scattered about over the sea.

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

The only thing to chronicle to-day is the quantities of fish about; nine bonitos were caught this forenoon, and some large albacores seen.

From The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg and Other Stories by Mark Twain

While angling among the albacores, with the prospect of making a successful troll, they had thought less of it.

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

It is itself preyed upon by other fish,—diodons and albacores; but the shark is merciful to it, as to the pilot-fish, and never interferes with it.

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