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
The Forme of Cury (circa 1390), compiled by Richard II’s royal chefs, included recipes for pickled herring and onions, using spices like saffron to enhance flavor.
—
Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
Multiple studies conducted over the past decade show herring gulls actively read human body language and make calculated decisions about when and what to steal.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
Those herring gulls eyeing your lunch at a South Florida beach or waterfront restaurant aren’t just waiting for an opening.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
At Mandalay Bay Resort, the big fish are fed a mix of mackerel, herring, blue runner and sardines, according to The Associated Press (AP).
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for herring
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Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
Multiple studies conducted over the past decade show herring gulls actively read human body language and make calculated decisions about when and what to steal.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
Those herring gulls eyeing your lunch at a South Florida beach or waterfront restaurant aren’t just waiting for an opening.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
At Mandalay Bay Resort, the big fish are fed a mix of mackerel, herring, blue runner and sardines, according to The Associated Press (AP).
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for herring
Cite this Entry
“Herring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herring. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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