plural shad
: any of several fishes (especially genus Alosa) of the shad family that have a relatively deep body and are anadromous and that include some important food fishes of Europe and North America
Examples of shad in a Sentence
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Across the Northern Hemisphere, migratory fish such as salmon, sturgeon and shad have suffered major losses because rivers have been dammed and polluted, while many populations were heavily overfished.
—
Zeb Hogan, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
American shad is another predator of concern to them.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Have a walking-style top-water lure ready for bass schooling on the surface chasing shad.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
There was likely shad from the Delaware River, fresh corn and lettuces from nearby farms, sugar and pineapples from the Caribbean, spices from Asia.
—Victoria Flexner, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025
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Zeb Hogan, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
American shad is another predator of concern to them.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Have a walking-style top-water lure ready for bass schooling on the surface chasing shad.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
There was likely shad from the Delaware River, fresh corn and lettuces from nearby farms, sugar and pineapples from the Caribbean, spices from Asia.
—Victoria Flexner, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shad
Cite this Entry
“Shad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shad. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shad
noun
plural shad
: any of several sea fishes that are related to the herrings, swim up rivers to lay or fertilize eggs, and include important food fishes
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