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.
Book a cabana, take the plunge and enjoy a casual afternoon of fresh shellfish, complemented by a Provençal lunch of salad, grilled fish and rosé at the poolside restaurant with a remarkable view of the French Riviera. Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025 There’s also a wide variety of seafood options, including a seafood tower laden with shellfish, ceviche and crudo and there are vegetarian offerings like grilled maitake mushrooms, as well as a wine program. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2025 Attendees regularly visited New York City, dined on chilled shellfish, drank free booze, collected TV-star autographs and met up with TV ad-sales executives and media buyers from their current agency of record. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 11 May 2025 Early symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning include tingling of the lips and tongue that could start anywhere from a few minutes to hours after eating toxic shellfish. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2025 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 4 Jun. 2025.

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)

More from Merriam-Webster on shellfish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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