shellfish

noun

shell·​fish ˈshel-ˌfish How to pronounce shellfish (audio)
: 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
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.
The rules reportedly indicate shellfish is avoided, as is raw or rare meat. Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 3 July 2026 The extra time gives the wine enough breadth for tomato, cheese, shellfish and oil without losing the acidity that makes Santorini whites so useful at the table. Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 And infections from Vibrio vulnificus linked to consuming raw or undercooked shellfish have been increasing as the presence of other pathogens in food decrease. Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 1 July 2026 Other work has found that can include, for example, collecting shellfish near the shore. Mark Axelrod, The Conversation, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for shellfish

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shellfish was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Shellfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shellfish. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

shellfish

noun
shell·​fish ˈshel-ˌfish How to pronounce shellfish (audio)
: an invertebrate animal that lives in water and has a shell
especially : an edible mollusk (as an oyster) or crustacean (as a crab)

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