shellfish

noun

shell·​fish ˈshel-ˌfish 

: 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

These also include milk, eggs, shellfish, tree nuts—such as almonds, walnuts and pecans—peanuts, wheat, and sesame. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024

Spain’s best shellfish comes from the icy cold waters of the Atlantic and the fjords that carve up the region’s jagged coastline. —Sofia Perez, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024

The food makes the most of the Lake District and coastline produce, serving up cuts of rare-breed cattle and Herdwick lamb, local fish and shellfish and artisan cheeses. —Natasha Langan, theweek, 1 Nov. 2024

Allergens can cause serious and sometimes deadly reactions, and the nine major allergens—peanuts, wheat, milk, tree nuts, soy, egg, crustaceans (shellfish), fish and sesame—are all required by law to be clearly marked on all products. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

shellfish

noun

shell·​fish ˈshel-ˌfish 

: an invertebrate animal that lives in water and has a shell

especially : an edible mollusk (as an oyster) or crustacean (as a crab)