conch

noun

ˈkäŋk  ˈkänch 

ˈkȯŋk

plural conchs ˈkäŋks 

ˈkȯŋks

or conches ˈkän-chəz 

1

: any of various large spiral-shelled marine gastropod mollusks (as of the genus Strombus)

also : its shell used especially for cameos

2

often disparaging : a native or resident of the Florida Keys

3

: concha sense 2

Illustration of conch

• conch 1

Examples of conch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An Oklahoma man was booked into a Florida Keys jail after a Monroe County deputy found him in possession of six queen conchs on Thursday night, the sheriff’s office said. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

There are antique lighting fixtures, handmade wooden carvings of wild cats, myriad conch shells, and paintings of seemingly every size and artistic style imaginable. — Sarah Jackson valentina Duarte, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026

Conch, one of the country’s most recognizable ingredients, takes center stage through fresh conch salad and fritters. — Martie Bowser, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

There are some very fine definitions of where conch will like to spend their time. — Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 31 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin concha mussel, mussel shell, from Greek konchē; akin to Sanskrit śaṅkha conch shell

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for conch

• haunch
• launch
• paunch
• staunch
• protoconch

Kids Definition

conch

noun

ˈkäŋk  ˈkänch 

plural conchs ˈkäŋks  or conches

ˈkän-chəz

: a large marine gastropod mollusk having a spiral shell

also : its shell

Medical Definition

conch

noun

ˈkäŋk  ˈkänch 

ˈkȯŋk

plural conchs ˈkäŋks, ˈkȯŋks  or conches ˈkän-chəz 

: concha sense 1