Illustration of Dungeness crab
Dungeness crab
noun
Dunge·ness crab
ˌdən-jə-ˌnes- 
: a large edible crab (Metacarcinus magister) of the Pacific coast of North America from Alaska to California
Examples of Dungeness crab in a Sentence
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California's commercial Dungeness crab season is set to open on January 5 with limits on the number of commercial traps because of the risk of humpback whale entanglements, authorities said Friday.
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Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
The biotoxins have led to some Dungeness crab production closures in Washington and some sardine and anchovy fisheries closures in California.
—Pueng Vongs, Mercury News, 18 Dec. 2025
Expect Marea’s beloved crudi, octopus and bone marrow fusilli, alongside new local creations like Dungeness crab pappardelle and branzino tartare.
—Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2025
California has 42 official state symbols after Governor Newsom signed three bills to create new symbols in 2024, including the Dungeness crab as the state crustacean, the banana slug as the state slug, and the black abalone as the state seashell.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
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Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
The biotoxins have led to some Dungeness crab production closures in Washington and some sardine and anchovy fisheries closures in California.
—Pueng Vongs, Mercury News, 18 Dec. 2025
Expect Marea’s beloved crudi, octopus and bone marrow fusilli, alongside new local creations like Dungeness crab pappardelle and branzino tartare.
—Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2025
California has 42 official state symbols after Governor Newsom signed three bills to create new symbols in 2024, including the Dungeness crab as the state crustacean, the banana slug as the state slug, and the black abalone as the state seashell.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Dungeness crab
Cite this Entry
“Dungeness crab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Dungeness%20crab. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
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