menhaden
noun
men·ha·den
men-ˈhā-dᵊn 
mən-
plural menhaden also menhadens
: a marine fish (Brevoortia tyrannus) of the herring family abundant along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. where it is used for bait or converted into oil and fertilizer
also
: any of several congeneric fishes
Examples of menhaden in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These temperate, food-rich waters are a buffet for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, drawing them in to chase down mullet, menhaden, and other small fish.
—
Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2025
Some biologists also worry about numbers of menhaden, a primary food for striped bass.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 17 Sep. 2025
These menhaden aren’t going to feed American families.
—Phil Zalesak, Baltimore Sun, 16 Aug. 2025
When a menhaden school comes close to shore, sharks sometimes follow them in.
—Hans Walters, New York Daily News, 19 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for menhaden
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Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2025
Some biologists also worry about numbers of menhaden, a primary food for striped bass.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 17 Sep. 2025
These menhaden aren’t going to feed American families.
—Phil Zalesak, Baltimore Sun, 16 Aug. 2025
When a menhaden school comes close to shore, sharks sometimes follow them in.
—Hans Walters, New York Daily News, 19 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for menhaden
Cite this Entry
“Menhaden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menhaden. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
menhaden
noun
men·ha·den
men-ˈhād-ᵊn
mən-
plural menhaden also menhadens
: a fish of the Atlantic coast of the U.S. that is related to the herring and is a source of oil and fertilizer
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