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

Or to quickly thaw frozen shrimp, add the shellfish in its unopened package to a bowl of cool water. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2025

The other ingredients covered much of the shellfish flavors, though a smoky umami profile peeked through even in portions without oyster chunks. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 20 Sep. 2025

The Orange County eatery shares some of the same dishes as its King’s brethren, including fresh oysters and shellfish and Wild Columbia River salmon, although prepared differently with heirloom carrots and vadouvan curry butter. —Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025

The largest species of cormorant on the US Pacific Coast, these marine birds can dive deep below the ocean surface to catch fish and shellfish. —New Atlas, 17 Sep. 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)