seafood: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral
Quick answer
What does “seafood” mean?
Animals from the sea that are eaten as food, especially fish and shellfish.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Animals from the sea that are eaten as food, especially fish and shellfish.
A general category for culinary purposes that includes any edible aquatic animal life, often associated with restaurants, markets, and specific diets. Sometimes extended figuratively in branding or names.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The term 'shellfish' is often used more specifically in both varieties.
Connotations
Similar connotations of freshness and coastal cuisine in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “seafood” in a Sentence
[verb] + seafood (e.g., eat, cook, serve, buy)seafood + [noun] (e.g., seafood pasta, seafood market)[adjective] + seafood (e.g., fresh seafood, frozen seafood)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “seafood” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- A seafood specialist.
- The seafood counter is over there.
American English
- A seafood buffet.
- Check the seafood section.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In menus, marketing for restaurants, and food import/export industries.
Academic
Used in studies of nutrition, marine biology (in culinary context), and culinary arts.
Everyday
Common in conversations about diet, cooking, restaurants, and shopping.
Technical
Used in culinary arts, food safety regulations, and aquaculture.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “seafood”
- Using as a countable noun (e.g., 'I ate three seafoods' is incorrect).
- Spelling as two words: 'sea food' (should be one word or hyphenated).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is almost always uncountable. You say 'some seafood' or 'a lot of seafood', not 'a seafood' or 'seafoods' (except in very rare, specialised contexts referring to different types).
No, typically not. In common culinary usage, 'seafood' refers to edible aquatic animals (fish, crustaceans, molluscs). Seaweed is a plant and is usually referred to specifically as 'seaweed' or 'sea vegetables'.
'Fish' refers specifically to animals with gills and fins. 'Seafood' is a broader category that includes fish as well as shellfish like prawns, crabs, mussels, and oysters.
Yes, it is commonly used attributively (functioning like an adjective) before nouns, e.g., 'seafood soup', 'seafood industry', 'seafood allergy'.
Animals from the sea that are eaten as food, especially fish and shellfish.
Seafood is usually neutral in register.
Seafood: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsiːfuːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsiːˌfuːd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specifically with 'seafood']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the two parts: SEA (where it comes from) + FOOD (what it is). Simple compound word.
Conceptual Metaphor
OCEAN AS A PANTRY / HARVEST.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT typically considered seafood?