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Definition of anchovy
anchovy
/ˈæn.tʃoʊ.vi/
an · cho · vy
Plural:anchovies
anchovy Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
5
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
anchovy Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
The cured and salted fillet of the anchovy fish, typically packed in oil and used to impart a pungent, umami flavor to dishes such as pizzas, salads, and sauces.
Example
"The chef mashed an anchovy into the Caesar dressing to give it an authentic and savory depth."
2
A small, slender, schooling forage fish of the family Engraulidae, primarily found in marine waters.
Example
"The marine biologist studied how the massive schools of anchovy serve as a crucial food source for larger predators in the Pacific."
Word Origin & Etymology
Late 16th century: from Spanish 'anchova' or Portuguese 'anchova', possibly originating from Genoese 'anciua' or Basque 'antzu' meaning 'dry'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Anchovy. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 11, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/anchovy