lobster

noun

lob·​ster ˈläb-stər 

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

: spiny lobster

lobsterlike

ˈläb-stər-ˌlīk 

adjective

Illustration of lobster

• lobster 1

Examples of lobster in a Sentence

I had lobster for dinner.

Recent Examples on the Web

Beyond dim sum, the menu also features lobster, hot pot, and Vietnamese dishes. —Angela Lian, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026

The menu includes hearty dishes like chicken Parmigiana, spaghetti and meatballs, and a New York strip alongside lighter options like shrimp cocktail; calamari, shrimp, lobster and crab in citronette; and a California salad with mangoes, tomatoes, cucumbers and avocado. —Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026

The local carcasses may simply be a run-of-the-mill lobster molt. —Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026

Webster had joined the military at 19, taken his first plane ride to boot camp in South Carolina, gotten his first taste of lobster tail on a ship in the Mediterranean. —Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026

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

Phrases Containing lobster

• hanging lobster claw
• lobster claw
• lobster pot
• lobster shift
• lobster thermidor
• lobster trap
• Norway lobster
• rock lobster
• spiny lobster

Rhymes for lobster

• mobster

Kids Definition

lobster

noun

lob·​ster ˈläb-stər 

: any of several large edible marine crustaceans with stalked eyes, a pair of large claws, and a long abdomen

also : spiny lobster