red herring

noun

1
: a herring cured by salting and slow smoking to a dark brown color
2
[from the practice of drawing a red herring across a trail to confuse hunting dogs] : something that distracts attention from the real issue

Did you know?

Believe it or not, red herring has as much to do with hunting dogs as with brightly colored fish. Here's how: A herring is a soft-finned bony fish. People who like to eat herring have long preserved them by salting and slowly smoking them. That process makes a herring turn red or dark brown—and gives them a very strong smell. Dogs love to sniff such smelly treats, a fact that makes the fish a perfect diversion for anyone trying to distract hunting dogs from the trail of their quarry. The practice of using preserved fish to confuse hunting dogs led to the use of the term red herring for anything that diverts attention from the issue at hand.

Examples of red herring in a Sentence

The argument is a red herring. It actually has nothing to do with the issue. The plot of the mystery was full of red herrings.
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 fact that the match almost stretched to the 100th over was a red herring given that the Men in Blue bat deep and always had enough at the back end to see them over the line. Tim Ellis, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025 The metaphor, while touching, is almost — almost — a red herring. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025 This fundamental lack of logic trickles down to even the smallest moments: Alex seems to have no staff members in her congressional office; Roger is connected to every bad guy and red herring possible; and the commission only pursues investigative leads that Mullen personally develops. Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025 This is where the show’s fondness for pattern, symbolism, and self-awareness really shines, as season three becomes an endlessly generous source of theories, possibilities, red herrings, and feints. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for red herring

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of red herring was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Red herring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20herring. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

red herring

noun
: something intended to distract attention from the real problem

Legal Definition

red herring

noun
red her·​ring
ˌred-ˈher-iŋ
: a preliminary prospectus (as for the sale of securities) that is not yet approved by the appropriate body (as the Securities and Exchange Commission)
Etymology

red herring something that distracts attention from the main issue, diversion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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