plural shad
: any of several fishes (especially genus Alosa) of the shad family that have a relatively deep body and are anadromous and that include some important food fishes of Europe and North America
Examples of shad in a Sentence
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Where the rhythm of the seasons — the shad running, the oysters plump and cold in winter, the grasses greening in spring — felt as reliable as a clock.
—
Serena C. McIlwain, Baltimore Sun, 8 June 2026
Evans was pitching a cut shad bait using a Rapala Rod paired with a Shimano reel spooled with 30-pound Stren line.
—Ken Perrotte, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
Gizzard shad are native to Michigan, according to the DNR, and are named for the muscular organ, most commonly associated with chickens, that is filled with grit and stones that help break down food.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 7 May 2026
Across the Northern Hemisphere, migratory fish such as salmon, sturgeon and shad have suffered major losses because rivers have been dammed and polluted, while many populations were heavily overfished.
—Zeb Hogan, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
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Serena C. McIlwain, Baltimore Sun, 8 June 2026
Evans was pitching a cut shad bait using a Rapala Rod paired with a Shimano reel spooled with 30-pound Stren line.
—Ken Perrotte, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
Gizzard shad are native to Michigan, according to the DNR, and are named for the muscular organ, most commonly associated with chickens, that is filled with grit and stones that help break down food.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 7 May 2026
Across the Northern Hemisphere, migratory fish such as salmon, sturgeon and shad have suffered major losses because rivers have been dammed and polluted, while many populations were heavily overfished.
—Zeb Hogan, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shad
Cite this Entry
“Shad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shad. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shad
noun
plural shad
: any of several sea fishes that are related to the herrings, swim up rivers to lay or fertilize eggs, and include important food fishes
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