conch

noun

ˈkäŋk  ˈkänch 

ˈkȯŋk

plural conchs ˈkäŋks 

ˈkȯŋks

or conches ˈkän-chəz 

1

: any of various large spiral-shelled marine gastropod mollusks (as of the genus Strombus)

also : its shell used especially for cameos

2

often disparaging : a native or resident of the Florida Keys

3

: concha sense 2

Illustration of conch

• conch 1

Examples of conch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The creation of Feal Hospitality’s Chef Niven Patel and business partner Mohammed Alkassar had a great vibe, stellar service and offered intriguing twists on Italian cuisine meshed with South Florida touches (conch and pasta, anyone)? —Miami Herald, 22 Dec. 2025

Where To Try Them While most Gulf Coast and Keys dockside restaurants will have conch fritters on their app menu, not all will have the real deal. —Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2025

And speaking of food, my mouth waters at the delicious seafood dishes the island is known for, including conch, dumplings, and steamed snapper fish with funchi. —Essence, 6 Oct. 2025

The way a snail’s conch just grows, mostly right but sometimes left. —Victoria Chang, The New York Review of Books, 2 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin concha mussel, mussel shell, from Greek konchē; akin to Sanskrit śaṅkha conch shell

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for conch

• haunch
• launch
• paunch
• staunch
• protoconch

Kids Definition

conch

noun

ˈkäŋk  ˈkänch 

plural conchs ˈkäŋks  or conches

ˈkän-chəz

: a large marine gastropod mollusk having a spiral shell

also : its shell

Medical Definition

conch

noun

ˈkäŋk  ˈkänch 

ˈkȯŋk

plural conchs ˈkäŋks, ˈkȯŋks  or conches ˈkän-chəz 

: concha sense 1