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

Fresh produce is abundant, as are fish and shellfish, and pretty much everything is well-suited for big family gatherings. —Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 May 2025

Domoic acid in shellfish has been found to occur at high concentrations off the coast of San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles counties, according to USC researchers. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2025

Plus: the primer that opens the book is a handy guide to shopping for, preparing and storing fish and shellfish. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025

Cow milk, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, eggs, wheat, fish, and shellfish are the most common foods.1 Food allergies in children aren't usually preventable. —Wendy Wisner, Health, 17 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)