bonito

noun

bo·​ni·​to bə-ˈnē-(ˌ)tō  -ˈnē-tə 

plural bonitos or bonito

1

: any of several swift-swimming scombroid fishes (genus Sarda) that are typically dark blue to bluish-green with dark stripes and a silvery belly, that are intermediate in size between the related mackerel and tuna, and that are valued as food and sport fishes

… the Atlantic bonito not only strikes hard …, the fish is also excellent table fare.

—Star-News (Wilmington, North Carolina)

Pacific bonito are related to tuna and can grow to 20 pounds.

—Allen Bushnell

also : a closely related fish (such as a dogtooth tuna or little tunny)

2

: skipjack tuna

For tuna—bluefin … and bonito—the fishermen … would drag a net between two boats …

—Mark Kurlansky

My mother adopted the habit of offering as a condiment dried bonito flakes …

—Corby Kummer

Examples of bonito in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Then add the kombu, bonito, and shiitake mushroom, turkey carcass, and water. —Kathryn Gregory, The Courier-Journal, 26 Nov. 2024

Miller established the Sao Paolo Athletic Club and organized the country’s first football league—a decidedly posh affair in its early years, long before the jogo bonito would become synonymous with Brazil and the inspirational power of a poor man’s game. —Andrés Martinez, TIME, 15 Sep. 2024

Miller established the Sao Paulo Athletic Club and organized the country’s first football league—a decidedly posh affair in its early years, long before the jogo bonito would become synonymous with Brazil and the inspirational power of a poor man’s game. —Andrés Martinez, TIME, 15 Sep. 2024

Lo is a global-minded chef, so her recommended pantry swerves from bonito flakes to harissa to masa harina. —Scott Hocker, theweek, 2 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from bonito pretty, diminutive of bueno good, from Latin bonus

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bonito

noun

bo·​ni·​to bə-ˈnēt-ō 

-ˈnēt-ə

plural bonitos or bonito

: any of various medium-sized tunas