herring

noun her·ring \ ˈher-iŋ , ˈhe-riŋ \

|Updated on: 16 Jul 2018

Definition of herring

plural herring or herrings

1 : either of two food fishes (genus Clupeus):

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

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Recent Examples of herring from the Web

Here's a selection of everyday items that could be impacted: • Seafood, including trout, eels, salmon, tuna, swordfish, herrings, cod, catfish, crabmeat, squid, claims.

— nathan bomey, USA TODAY, "Taxing oxygen? It could happen. President Trump threatens wide-ranging tariffs on China," 11 July 2018
According to Live Science’s Laura Geggel, the archaeologists discovered evidence of a wide range of foods, including herring, eel, cod, apples, raspberries, cherries and rye bread.

— meilan solly, Smithsonian, "Archaeologists Unseal 17th-Century Danish Latrines to Discover Copenhageners’ Dietary Habits," 9 July 2018
There was the black five-inch slow roller shad, a chartreuse five-inch shad, the five-inch slow roller eels, a seven-inch herring prototype.

— john peabody, New York Times, "A Growing Brooklyn Fishing Scene, Artisanal Lures Included," 28 June 2018
The herring is a little bit higher in calories and fat, so that’s their main energy provider.

— grace wong, chicagotribune.com, "What do a sommelier, a Bears lineman and a penguin eat for lunch?," 26 Apr. 2018
Around every bend in the road is someone turning the bounty of the islands into something edible: Smoked herring comes from the local Fumoir d’Antan.

— tyler graham, Condé Nast Traveler, "Exploring the Magdalen Islands, Canada's Remote Foodie Paradise," 2 Apr. 2018
Fish varieties include salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring and dried salty cod.

— NBC News, "What is the Nordic diet — and why do doctors, dietitians and even psychiatrists like it so much?," 22 June 2018
What to Eat While traditional fare varies from place to place, pickled herring reigns supreme.

— michaela bechler, Vogue, "How to Throw a Scandinavian Midsummer Celebration," 22 June 2018
Traditions include dancing around a Maypole, drinking and classic Swedish foods like pickled herring and fresh strawberries.

— caroline simon, USA TODAY, "The Summer Solstice isn't just about weather - it's also about romance," 21 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'herring.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.