mollusk

1 of 2

noun

mol·​lusk ˈmä-ləsk 

variants or mollusc

: any of a large phylum (Mollusca) of invertebrate animals (such as snails, clams, or squids) with a soft unsegmented body usually enclosed in a calcareous shell

broadly : shellfish

molluscan adjective

or less commonly molluskan

mə-ˈlə-skən 

mä-

molluscan

2 of 2

adjective

mol·​lus·​can

variants or less commonly molluskan

-kən 

: of or relating to the Mollusca

Examples of mollusk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The mollusks can form dense colonies that clog pipes, obstruct water flow and foul boat motors. — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Their daughter, Lizzie (Beatty), and maid Bridget Sullivan (Vicky Krieps) had intentionally prepared the out-of-season mollusks, hoping to poison them to death. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Sep. 2026

Cultured pearls, as opposed to natural ones, are created by implanting a shell bead into a mollusk. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026

Sher did fall short of convincing Deukmejian to sign one of his bills — a whimsical measure inspired by a Camp Fire girls and boys troop to proclaim the banana slug to be the official state mollusk. — Dan Morain, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French mollusque, from New Latin Mollusca, from Latin, neuter plural of molluscus thin-shelled (of a nut), from mollis

Adjective

New Latin Mollusca + English -an

First Known Use

Noun

1783, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mollusk

• mollusc

Kids Definition

mollusk

noun

mol·​lusk

variants or mollusc

ˈmäl-əsk 

: any of a large phylum of invertebrate animals (as snails, clams, and octopuses) with a soft body lacking segments and usually enclosed in a shell containing calcium

molluscan adjective

also molluskan

mə-ˈləs-kən 

mä-

Medical Definition

mollusk

noun

mol·​lusk

variants or mollusc

ˈmäl-əsk 

: any invertebrate animal of the phylum Mollusca

molluscan adjective

also molluskan

mə-ˈles-kən, mä-