shellfish

noun

shell·​fish ˈshel-ˌfish How to pronounce shellfish (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The prepped oysters were missing shellfish certification tags. Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026 Maryland plans to lift a warning on shellfish harvesting, and Virginia continues to monitor the situation. Jenny Gathright, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2026 Succulent shellfish meet beautiful, buttery pasta in this recipe. Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026 Epstein’s calendars show that when Menchel came to dinner the chef was not to serve sushi, noting that Menchel was allergic to shellfish. Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shellfish

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shellfish was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Shellfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shellfish. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

shellfish

noun
shell·​fish ˈshel-ˌfish How to pronounce shellfish (audio)
: an invertebrate animal that lives in water and has a shell
especially : an edible mollusk (as an oyster) or crustacean (as a crab)

More from Merriam-Webster on shellfish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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