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

Anyone who eats raw shellfish can be exposed to norovirus, according to the CDC. —Evan Moore december 5, Charlotte Observer, 5 Dec. 2025

The soupe de poisson and rouille were duly prepared, and one by one, the fish and the eel were added, and finally, the shellfish. —Georgeanne Brennan, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025

To cope, pearl farmers and researchers are experimenting with selectively breeding shellfish to develop disease-resistant strains of akoya oysters that can withstand heat. —Arkansas Online, 1 Dec. 2025

Our research group is now tracking the bioaccumulation in Elkhorn Slough’s shellfish, crabs and fish. —Ivano W. Aiello, The Conversation, 1 Dec. 2025

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)