shellfish

noun

shell·​fish ˈshel-ˌfish 

: an aquatic invertebrate animal with a shell

especially : an edible mollusk or crustacean

Examples of shellfish in a Sentence

lobsters, crabs, and other shellfish

Recent Examples on the Web

For a couple of decades now, shellfish have been unable to make their shells. —Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025

Look for pasta that is free of common allergens, such as milk, soy, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, eggs and peanuts. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025

The planetary boundary for ocean acidification is defined as a 20% decline from the pre-industrial aragonite saturation state, a measure of ocean water's ability to support calcifying organisms such as corals and shellfish. —Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025

Inadequate record keeping of seafood/shellfish and fish. —Ashley Fredde, Idaho Statesman, 20 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shellfish

• bluefish
• catfish
• codfish
• crawfish
• dogfish
• finfish
• flatfish
• goldfish
• groundfish
• kingfish
• offish
• redfish

Kids Definition

shellfish

noun

shell·​fish ˈshel-ˌfish 

: an invertebrate animal that lives in water and has a shell

especially : an edible mollusk (as an oyster) or crustacean (as a crab)