# Becker

/ˈbɛkɝ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/becker
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a surname

noun · CEFR B2

a common family name, especially in Germany.

For teachers: a surname of Germanic origin, historically referring to a baker.

- Boris Becker is a famous tennis player from Germany.
- The professor noted that the name Becker is one of the most frequent occupational surnames found in German-speaking regions.

### 2. a type of fish

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old name for a red sea fish found in Europe.

For teachers: an archaic name for the red porgy (Pagrus pagrus), a saltwater fish of the Sparidae family.

- In old books about the sea, you might see this fish called a becker.
- The naturalist's 19th-century journal contained detailed sketches of the becker, noting its prevalence in the coastal waters of the Mediterranean.

Usage: Usually appears in historical or scientific texts from the 18th and 19th centuries.

## Examples

- She baked a becker for the afternoon tea.
- The medieval recipe called for a thin becker made of flour and honey.
- In the quiet corner of the antique shop, a dusty tin held the last remaining becker from the Victorian era.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.