crustacean

noun

crus·​ta·​cean ˌkrə-ˈstā-shən 

: any of a large class (Crustacea) of mostly aquatic mandibulate arthropods that have a chitinous or calcareous and chitinous exoskeleton, a pair of often much modified appendages on each segment, and two pairs of antennae and that include the lobsters, shrimp, crabs, wood lice, water fleas, and barnacles

crustacean adjective

Examples of crustacean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But, until then, hunting for the clawless crustaceans could land you in jail, as a man from Ontario, Canada, found out this month. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026

Blair has done a fair number of dog and cat memorial drawings, but also the occasional turtle, bird, rabbit and even a crustacean who once graced their owner’s salt water fish tank. — Felicia Feaster, USA Today, 17 July 2026

Its splurge-worthy Iridium Spa resembles a crustacean with overwater treatment rooms acting as claws. — Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 16 July 2026

The crustacean also has a sizable recreational and commercial fishery, which pumps significant money into the state’s economy, the department said. — Seamus Bozeman, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for crustacean

• ablation
• aeration
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation

Kids Definition

crustacean

noun

crus·​ta·​cean ˌkrəs-ˈtā-shən 

: any of a large class of mostly water-dwelling arthropods (as lobsters, shrimps, crabs, wood lice, water fleas, and barnacles) having an exoskeleton of chitin or chitin and a compound of calcium

crustacean adjective