Illustration of softshell
soft·shell
ˈsȯf(t)-ˌshel 
: any of a family (Trionychidae) of freshwater carnivorous turtles that have sharp claws and mandibles and a flat round shell covered with soft leathery skin instead of with horny plates
called also soft-shelled turtle
variants
or soft-shelled
: having a soft or fragile shell especially as a result of recent shedding
soft-shell crabs
Examples of softshell in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Anne Taylor, Travel + Leisure, 5 Sep. 2025
After extensive market research, only one answer made sense: consumers had suddenly become more savvy about the quality of softshell jackets.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Jenn Rice, Travel + Leisure, 3 Nov. 2025
The Freewheel is a light (less than 16 ounces) and breathable soft-shell outer layer made from a mix of spandex and recycled nylon to give the jacket unbelievable stretch.
—Graham Averill, Outside, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for softshell
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.
Noun
Columbia Women’s Sweet As III Hooded Softshell Jacket A softshell jacket is another quintessential fall hiking piece.
—Anne Taylor, Travel + Leisure, 5 Sep. 2025
After extensive market research, only one answer made sense: consumers had suddenly become more savvy about the quality of softshell jackets.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
In soft-shell crab BLTs and tomato pies served in cast-iron skillets.
—Jenn Rice, Travel + Leisure, 3 Nov. 2025
The Freewheel is a light (less than 16 ounces) and breathable soft-shell outer layer made from a mix of spandex and recycled nylon to give the jacket unbelievable stretch.
—Graham Averill, Outside, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for softshell
Cite this Entry
“Softshell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/softshell. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share