herring

noun

her·​ring ˈher-iŋ 

ˈhe-riŋ

plural herring or herrings

1

: either of two food fishes (genus Clupea):

a

: one (C. harengus) that is abundant in the temperate and colder parts of the North Atlantic and that in the adult state is preserved by smoking or salting and in the young state is extensively canned and sold as sardines

b

: one (C. pallasi synonym C. h. pallasi) of the North Pacific harvested especially for its roe

2

: any of a large family (Clupeidae) of soft-finned bony fishes (such as the herrings, shads, sardines, and menhadens) that have a laterally compressed body and a forked tail and usually occur in schools

Examples of herring in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Why Forage Fish Conservation Matters James MacDonald May 19, 2019 Small fish like herring and anchovies serve an important role in the ecosystem. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 Apr. 2025

This three-course meal ($165 per person) features a selection of herrings and cold seafood preparations for the first course. —Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025

Tourism and fishing livelihoods fell apart overnight with tarnished coastlines and obliterated runs of wild salmon and herring that took decades to recover. —Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2025

Fatty Fish Fatty fish include salmon, herring, and mackerel. —Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hering, from Old English hǣring; akin to Old High German hārinc herring

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing herring

• blueback herring
• herring gull
• lake herring
• red herring

Rhymes for herring

• airing
• bearing
• blaring
• caring
• chairing
• charing
• daring
• erring
• fairing
• flaring
• glaring
• haring

Kids Definition

herring

noun

her·​ring ˈher-iŋ 

plural herring or herrings

: a valuable food fish that is very common in the north Atlantic Ocean

also : any of various fishes like this one or related to it