menhaden

noun

men·​ha·​den men-ˈhā-dᵊn 

mən-

plural menhaden also menhadens

: a marine fish (Brevoortia tyrannus) of the herring family abundant along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. where it is used for bait or converted into oil and fertilizer

also : any of several congeneric fishes

Examples of menhaden in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The report noted some concern around the Chesapeake Bay, where a scarcity of fish, particularly Atlantic menhaden, led to widespread nest failures that could affect the area’s success in the near future. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 21 Nov. 2024

This spinner shark is diving into a school of menhaden fish. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024

Listen to this article Long Island Sound is swimming with sharks, especially since bluefish and menhaden are plentiful, but should swimmers need to worry? —Ed Stannard, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2024

Atlantic menhaden, on the other hand, are found in abundance, swimming in large schools along the Atlantic coast of the U.S., according to the department. —Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 24 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

of Algonquian origin; akin to Narragansett munnawhatteaûg menhaden

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

menhaden

noun

men·​ha·​den men-ˈhād-ᵊn 

mən-

plural menhaden also menhadens

: a fish of the Atlantic coast of the U.S. that is related to the herring and is a source of oil and fertilizer