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

The restaurant is perched above the casino on the second floor, next to a food hall that boasts lobster rolls, burgers, pizza, sushi and, yes, tacos. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026

Fishermen found lobsters and crabs painted black and weighed down by oil. —Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026

For years, Melancon used to work laying concrete and cooking lobsters. —Bill Whitaker, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026

For their meal, the couple enjoyed steak and a medley of seafood, including lobster, sea bass, oysters, clams, and shrimp. —Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 4 Apr. 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