menhaden

noun

men·​ha·​den men-ˈhā-dᵊn 

mən-

plural menhaden also menhadens

: a marine fish (Brevoortia tyrannus) of the herring family abundant along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. where it is used for bait or converted into oil and fertilizer

also : any of several congeneric fishes

Examples of menhaden in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Jennette’s Pier staff and local anglers have recently confirmed that big menhaden schools in the area. —Alice Jones Webb, Outdoor Life, 8 Apr. 2025

Now fill the body cavity with shrimp, shedder crab, or menhaden oil to ramp up scent appeal. —Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2025

The grub in this case was likely herring or menhaden. —Ben McGrath, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

When larger forage like menhaden have moved south for the year, throwing big lures can be a waste of effort. —Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 25 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

of Algonquian origin; akin to Narragansett munnawhatteaûg menhaden

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for menhaden

• handmaiden
• unladen
• laden
• maidan
• maiden

Kids Definition

menhaden

noun

men·​ha·​den men-ˈhād-ᵊn 

mən-

plural menhaden also menhadens

: a fish of the Atlantic coast of the U.S. that is related to the herring and is a source of oil and fertilizer