shellfish

Everyday

Shellfish are water animals with a shell, such as crabs, lobsters, prawns, mussels, oysters and clams, especially when eaten as food. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons shellfish are not true fish: some are crustaceans (crabs, lobsters, shrimps) and some are molluscs (mussels, oysters, scallops). In everyday life and safety, some people have a shellfish allergy, which can be very dangerous, and shellfish must be fresh and cooked properly. Food labels warn about shellfish.

Examples

• Crabs and lobsters are shellfish. tree →
• My uncle is allergic to shellfish. tree →
• We ate shellfish at the seaside restaurant. tree →
• Shellfish live in rock pools and on the sea bed. tree →
• The menu says this dish contains shellfish. tree →
• Mussels are shellfish that cling to rocks. tree →

Note

Usually uncountable or the plural is the same: some shellfish, many shellfish. Trap: despite the name, shellfish are not fish; they have no backbone. Seafood is a wider word that includes fish too.