blue crab

noun

: a large bluish-green edible crab (Callinectes sapidus of the family Portunidae) of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts

Illustration of blue crab

Illustration of blue crab

Examples of blue crab in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When the restaurant itself opens, diners can also expect to see Giancarlo’s take on his grandmother’s spaghetti & blue crab, smothered in Sunday gravy and spaghetti tossed in the same sauce, topped with fresh basil. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026 Under the right conditions, a single one-kilogram adult can put away four medium-sized blue crabs a day. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 Under optimal circumstances, a one-kilogram adult can consume four medium-sized blue crabs a day, the experts behind the project say. — Gennaro Tomma, Scientific American, 25 Aug. 2026 Last year’s winner was the Crab and Mozzarella Arancini, which included Maryland blue crab meat, white rice with herbs and mozzarella coated in Italian breadcrumbs, served with marinara sauce. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for blue crab

Word History

First Known Use

1763, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of blue crab was in 1763

Rhymes for blue crab

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Browse Nearby Words

blue corn
blue crab
blue crane
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blue crab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blue%20crab. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on blue crab

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about blue crab

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