lobster

noun

lob·​ster ˈläb-stər 

often attributive

1

: any of a family (Nephropidae and especially Homarus americanus) of large edible marine decapod crustaceans that have stalked eyes, a pair of large claws, and a long abdomen and that include species from coasts on both sides of the North Atlantic and from the Cape of Good Hope

2

: spiny lobster

lobsterlike

ˈläb-stər-ˌlīk 

adjective

Illustration of lobster

• lobster 1

Examples of lobster in a Sentence

I had lobster for dinner.

Recent Examples on the Web

Open May through late September, the airy and palm-treed beach bar Gilligan’s brings Montauk to Manhattan, with generous lobster rolls and oysters to share, plus flatbread pizzas and a must-try watermelon marg. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 July 2026

Grab a seat outside to watch boats drift by as the sun sets over the water, then dig into crowd favorites like the lobster roll or tuna nachos. — Abby Price, Southern Living, 6 July 2026

Beginning near Trenton and winding across Mount Desert Island, the route takes travelers from waterfront lobster shacks and the shops of Bar Harbor to the granite peaks, carriage roads, and rugged coastline that the park is known for. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2026

Lunch tends to be pretty high-end stuff — lobster, salmon, that sort of vibe — and then afternoon tea is served later on. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English loppestre, from loppe spider

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing lobster

• hanging lobster claw
• lobster claw
• lobster pot
• lobster shift
• lobster thermidor
• lobster trap
• Norway lobster
• rock lobster
• spiny lobster

Rhymes for lobster

• mobster

Kids Definition

lobster

noun

lob·​ster ˈläb-stər 

: any of several large edible marine crustaceans with stalked eyes, a pair of large claws, and a long abdomen

also : spiny lobster