shellfish

noun

shell·​fish ˈshel-ˌfish 

: an aquatic invertebrate animal with a shell

especially : an edible mollusk or crustacean

Examples of shellfish in a Sentence

lobsters, crabs, and other shellfish

Recent Examples on the Web

Manila clams can serve as a food source for seabirds, crabs and other predators, potentially easing pressure on native shellfish such as softshell clams. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 15 July 2026

Necrotizing fasciitis can be contracted when bacteria that thrives in warm, brackish waters enters the body through open cuts, scrapes, burns or other puncture wounds, or by eating raw or undercooked shellfish. — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026

Americans under 45 who identify as religiously Jewish are more likely than older Jewish adults to say that marking or celebrating Shabbat or avoiding certain foods, like pork or shellfish, are highly important to their Jewish identity. — Giovanna Dell’orto, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026

The agency said most people who become infected do so by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters, while some get infected through an open wound that comes into contact with coastal waters. — Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shellfish

• bluefish
• catfish
• codfish
• crawfish
• dogfish
• finfish
• flatfish
• goldfish
• groundfish
• kingfish
• offish
• redfish

Kids Definition

shellfish

noun

shell·​fish ˈshel-ˌfish 

: an invertebrate animal that lives in water and has a shell

especially : an edible mollusk (as an oyster) or crustacean (as a crab)