lobster

noun

lob·​ster ˈläb-stər How to pronounce lobster (audio)
often attributive
1
: any of a family (Nephropidae and especially Homarus americanus) of large edible marine decapod crustaceans that have stalked eyes, a pair of large claws, and a long abdomen and that include species from coasts on both sides of the North Atlantic and from the Cape of Good Hope
2
lobsterlike adjective

Illustration of lobster

Illustration of lobster
  • lobster 1

Examples of lobster in a Sentence

I had lobster for dinner.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The menu includes dishes like a Thai spicy beef with basil, a Chilean sea bass served with Thai green curry and a lobster macadamia nut sushi roll, as well as dumplings, pho and spicy noodles. Reia Li, AZCentral.com, 19 Dec. 2025 All of the pastas are made in-house and include spaghetti tossed with crab meat and lobster cream or rigatoni in creamy vodka sauce enlivened with a punch of Calabrian chiles and plenty of garlic. Usa Today Network, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025 Buttery lobster tail, truffle butter, jumbo lump crab cakes and roasted bone marrow are some of the enhanced holiday meal options, according to a news release by the chain. Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 17 Dec. 2025 Add twin petite cold-water lobster tails or two jumbo lump crab cakes for an additional $39, 'Oscar style' crab for an additional $12, lobster macaroni shells and cheese for an additional $19. Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lobster

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English loppestre, from loppe spider

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of lobster was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lobster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lobster. Accessed 21 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

lobster

noun
lob·​ster ˈläb-stər How to pronounce lobster (audio)
: any of several large edible marine crustaceans with stalked eyes, a pair of large claws, and a long abdomen
also : spiny lobster

More from Merriam-Webster on lobster

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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