mackerel

IPA/ˈmækrəl/
KK[mˈækɚəl]IPA/ˈmækrəl/

mackerel — noun

  • mackerelsingular
  • mackerelsplural

1. an ocean fish with a greenish-blue back and dark wavy stripes, caught in large n

1.nounB1
Definition

an ocean fish with a greenish-blue back and dark wavy stripes, caught in large numbers for its rich-flavoured meat

Example

Mei-Lin grilled two fresh mackerel for dinner and served them with lemon and herbs.

invariant plural: 'two fresh mackerel' (not mackerels)

The fish shop near Elena's flat sells smoked mackerel at a very good price.

collocation: smoked mackerel

Common collocations
  • fresh mackerel
  • smoked mackerel
  • grilled mackerel
  • mackerel fillet

Grammar Patterns

mackerel as uncountable for the meat; countable for individual fish

Usage Note

Countable when referring to individual fish ('a fresh mackerel'); uncountable when referring to the flesh as food ('We had mackerel for lunch'). The plural is usually unchanged ('two mackerel'), though 'mackerels' is occasionally used.

Common Mistakes

I bought two mackerels at the market.
I bought two mackerel at the market.
the plural of 'mackerel' is the same as the singular.

2. any fish that belongs to the biological family Scombridae, a group of fast-swimm

2.nounC1
Definition

any fish that belongs to the biological family Scombridae, a group of fast-swimming ocean fish that includes tuna and bonito

Example

Tuna and bonito are both members of the mackerel family, known scientifically as Scombridae.

structure: 'members of the mackerel family'

The marine biologist explained that the king mackerel belongs to a different genus within the same family.

Common collocations
  • mackerel family
  • mackerel species
  • mackerel genus
Synonyms
  • scombroid

    technical adjective used by biologists; narrower and more formal than 'mackerel' in this sense

Grammar Patterns

the mackerel family / a member of the mackerel family

Usage Note

Frequently used with 'family' in scientific contexts ('the mackerel family' = Scombridae). This broader sense is mainly found in biology texts and fishing guides.

Common Mistakes

A salmon is a type of mackerel.
Salmon belongs to a different family than mackerel.
salmon are Salmonidae, not Scombridae.
Idioms

mackerel sky

idiom

a sky covered with rows of small, white, patchy clouds that look like the pattern on a mackerel's back; often seen before a change in the weather

Javier noticed a mackerel sky above the harbour and knew a storm was approaching.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three are small, oily saltwater fish commonly eaten across Europe and Asia. Mackerel has a firmer, darker flesh and a stronger flavour than sardine or herring, which are milder and more delicate. Sardines and herring are often preserved by canning or pickling, while mackerel is also frequently grilled or smoked. In Taiwan markets, mackerel (鯖魚) is thicker and larger than sardine (沙丁魚), which is smaller and sold packed in tins. Herring (鯡魚) is less common in East Asian cooking but popular in Northern Europe for pickling.

mackerel ↗sardine ↗herring ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • school of mackerel
  • mackerel fishing
  • mackerel boat

Phrases

  • school of mackerel

Etymology

LatinAnglo-NormanEnglish

The word 'mackerel' entered English from Anglo-Norman 'maquerel', which may come from Latin 'macula' meaning 'spot' — a reference to the fish's spotted back. An alternative theory traces it to Middle Dutch 'mackel', but the 'macula' link is the most widely accepted among linguists.