plural squid or squids
: any of an order (Teuthoidea) of cephalopods having eight short arms and two usually longer tentacles, a long tapered body, a caudal fin on each side, and usually a slender internal chitinous support

squid

2 of 3

verb

squidded; squidding

intransitive verb

: to fish with or for squid
: an instrument for detecting and measuring very weak magnetic fields

Examples of squid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Duffield also watched video of an autopsy of a large squid to figure out how to approach his lead character’s encounter with a similar creature in the early stages of his nightmare. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026 Jjamppong is a noodle soup with a spicy red pork broth filled with garlic, squid, mussels, pork, cabbage, carrots, Korean zucchini and onion. — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026 After submerging himself, Jay gets entangled in the tentacles of a giant squid, and that’s when the whale, who feeds on squid, pulls both Jay and the squid into his oversize gaping mouth. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 Almost all of the birds on Palmyra Atoll rely on the ocean, flying out to sea daily to feed on fish or squid, bringing some back for their young. — Lauren Sommer, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for squid

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

origin unknown

Noun (2)

superconducting quantum interference device

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1613, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1859, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of squid was in 1613

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Squid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squid. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

squid

noun
ˈskwid
plural squid or squids
: any of numerous sea mollusks that are cephalopods and have eight short arms and two usually longer tentacles, a long thin body with a fin on each side, and a slender internal shell

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