Illustration of whelk
: any of numerous large marine snails (as of the genus Buccinum)
especially
: one (B. undatum) used as food in Europe
Examples of whelk in a Sentence
Noun (2)
unsightly whelks covered the beggar's face
Recent Examples on the Web
Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2025
Accessible by ferry from Port Aransas, which sits just across the shipping channel, this 21-mile-long island offers nothing more than pristine Gulf Coast wilderness, and keen-eyed travelers often stumble upon sand dollars, lightning whelks, angel wings, and conchs.
—Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 6 Jan. 2025
Gastropods are a class of mollusks that include snails, slugs and whelks.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2025
On board the 30-foot Salford sailing whelk yacht, there’s silence except for the creak of ropes and gurgle of our wake.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2024
However, visitors will find moon snails, conch shells, pen shells, periwinkles, whelks, and olive shells, all indigenous to the area.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2024
The menu is full of seaside favorites, including generous platters and seafood towers overflowing with langoustines, whelks, prawns, oysters, and lobsters.
—Jade Simon, Vogue, 21 June 2024
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Noun
Shellers love the place (hence the name) for the abundance of unique finds, from sand dollars to lightning whelks, fighting conchs, scallops, and olive shells.
—Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2025
Accessible by ferry from Port Aransas, which sits just across the shipping channel, this 21-mile-long island offers nothing more than pristine Gulf Coast wilderness, and keen-eyed travelers often stumble upon sand dollars, lightning whelks, angel wings, and conchs.
—Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 6 Jan. 2025
Gastropods are a class of mollusks that include snails, slugs and whelks.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2025
On board the 30-foot Salford sailing whelk yacht, there’s silence except for the creak of ropes and gurgle of our wake.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2024
However, visitors will find moon snails, conch shells, pen shells, periwinkles, whelks, and olive shells, all indigenous to the area.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2024
The menu is full of seaside favorites, including generous platters and seafood towers overflowing with langoustines, whelks, prawns, oysters, and lobsters.
—Jade Simon, Vogue, 21 June 2024
Cite this Entry
“Whelk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whelk. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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