herring

noun

her·​ring ˈher-iŋ 

ˈhe-riŋ

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

Examples of herring in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Cold water fatty fish – remember the SMASH acronym: salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines and herring – are the best sources of omega-3s, but vegetarians or vegans can get their fix from flaxseeds, chia seeds and walnuts. —Georgia Day, Glamour, 12 Mar. 2024

The menu might include squid ink tagliatelle with avocado and smoked herring eggs, and an apricot dessert with a chestnut honey mousse. —Caitie Kelly Gisela Williams Camille Sojit Pejcha Lindsay Talbot Roxanne Fequiere Alexander Lobrano, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024

The spirit is enjoyed with dishes such as pickled herring or potato pancakes. —Ronnie Koenig, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

While the cases before the court on Wednesday were brought by New Jersey herring fishermen who objected to being forced to pay for federal inspections of their catch, the court's decision could undo decades of rules and procedures involving land use, the stock market, and on-the-job safety. —USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2024

Puffins spend most of their lives at sea, eating small fish, less than six inches long, such as sand lance and herring. —USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2024

According to a February 2021 study published in Environment International, Atlantic mackerel and herring were great sources of vitamin D. —Ella Quittner, Health, 9 Feb. 2024

This makes going herring fishing or having that option financially prohibitive. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 16 Jan. 2024

Popular baits include shrimp, squid or pieces of dead herring, pikeminnow or sucker. —Jordan Rodriguez, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024

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
• red herring
• lake herring
• herring gull

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