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

Shrimp and mussels are a must for her seafood paella, though the queen of home cooking has also used lobster in the past. — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 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

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

Fans from Scotland, Brazil, England and elsewhere have lined up for his famous lobster rolls and taken photos with staff members, Barker said. — ABC News, 2 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