herring

noun

her·​ring ˈher-iŋ 

ˈhe-riŋ

plural herring or herrings

1

: either of two food fishes (genus Clupea):

a

: one (C. harengus) that is abundant in the temperate and colder parts of the North Atlantic and that in the adult state is preserved by smoking or salting and in the young state is extensively canned and sold as sardines

b

: one (C. pallasi synonym C. h. pallasi) of the North Pacific harvested especially for its roe

2

: any of a large family (Clupeidae) of soft-finned bony fishes (such as the herrings, shads, sardines, and menhadens) that have a laterally compressed body and a forked tail and usually occur in schools

Examples of herring in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Opened in 2021, this stylish contemporary hotel — with its antler chandeliers and oversize firewood racks — is evidence of the direction the county is moving: less herring and cheese curds, more cocktails and caviar. —Jacqueline Kehoe, Travel + Leisure, 23 Jan. 2025

The grub in this case was likely herring or menhaden. —Ben McGrath, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

Luckily for those wanting to run to the store for some traditional New Years Day herrings or black-eyed peas, the chain will close at 8 p.m. New Year's Eve and reopen at 6 a.m. the next day. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025

Some years, the tribute might be a turkey, or fish; a few members of the tribe still fish the river each spring with nets for shad, herring and rockfish. —Andrew Sharp, Outdoor Life, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hering, from Old English hǣring; akin to Old High German hārinc herring

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing herring

• blueback herring
• herring gull
• lake herring
• red herring

Kids Definition

herring

noun

her·​ring ˈher-iŋ 

plural herring or herrings

: a valuable food fish that is very common in the north Atlantic Ocean

also : any of various fishes like this one or related to it