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

Best guess, for now, according to the experts, is a kind of shellfish. — Jim Greer, SPIN, 3 Sep. 2026

This methylmercury bioaccumulated in Minamata Bay’s fish and shellfish. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026

Tru Pizza, according to its website, served pizzas and other food free of gluten, dairy, soy, shellfish, nuts and corn. — Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2026

Meanwhile in Florida, a third death in less than a month was attributed to the flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus, which thrives in warmer, brackish seawater or by eating raw or undercooked shellfish. — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

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)