shellfish
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of shellfish
before 900; Middle English; Old English scilfisc. See shell, fish
Explanation
Use shellfish to refer to crustaceans and mollusks, especially the ones people commonly eat. Crabs, mussels, and shrimp are all shellfish. If you serve your guests a shellfish stew, they'll know it's full of creatures that originally had shells or hard exoskeletons. In most kitchens and restaurants, the term includes marine animals such as lobsters and oysters, and freshwater species like crayfish too. Fishery regulators only use shellfish for mollusks, including clams and mussels. The funny thing is that shellfish aren't fish at all — they're more closely related to arachnids and insects!
Vocabulary lists containing shellfish
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for September 30–October 6, 2023
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Commercial glucosamine supplements are often produced from materials such as shellfish shells or corn.
From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026
The median cost of a chicken entree is $28—more than fish and shellfish entrees, both $25, despite chicken being a lower cost ingredient, according to the firm’s 2026 data.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
The recalled seafood was harvested by Drayton Harbor Oyster Co. and the Lummi Indian Business Council in Drayton Harbor in Whatcom County, Wash. The contaminated shellfish was sold between Feb. 13 and March 3.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026
If the person asks you to explain how it works, just pretend to trip, then throw yourself into the shrimp tower, yell something about a shellfish allergy, and run.
From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026
Their water came from a little brackish well beside the hut; their food was fish and shellfish, fresh or dried, and rockweed.
From "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
