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

For the few lobsterman that remain, most supplement lobster trapping with other types of fish and shellfish in order to make enough money to be viable. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2025

These pterosaurs had strong limbs, curved beaks, and large crushing teeth – ideal adaptations for crunching shellfish and other difficult-to-chew prey. —Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 1 May 2025

The others include milk, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame. —Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025

Cicadas are edible, but people with shellfish allergies or certain health conditions should avoid eating them. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shellfish

• bluefish
• catfish
• codfish
• crawfish
• dogfish
• finfish
• flatfish
• goldfish
• groundfish
• kingfish
• offish
• redfish

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)