plural herring or herrings
1
: either of two food fishes (genus Clupea):
a
: one (C. harengus) that is abundant in the temperate and colder parts of the North Atlantic and that in the adult state is preserved by smoking or salting and in the young state is extensively canned and sold as sardines
b
: one (C. pallasi synonym C. h. pallasi) of the North Pacific harvested especially for its roe
2
: any of a large family (Clupeidae) of soft-finned bony fishes (such as the herrings, shads, sardines, and menhadens) that have a laterally compressed body and a forked tail and usually occur in schools
Examples of herring in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As marine organisms adapt to changing environments, some — such as Pacific herring and market squid — are moving northward.
—
Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2025
The tribe’s work on the land includes herring restoration, oyster restoration, and native tree planting.
—Joseph Lee, Vox, 26 Nov. 2024
River herring, shad, eel, and sea lamprey are among some of the marine life the river is inaccessible to.
—Julia Gordon, Hartford Courant, 20 Jan. 2025
Opened in 2021, this stylish contemporary hotel — with its antler chandeliers and oversize firewood racks — is evidence of the direction the county is moving: less herring and cheese curds, more cocktails and caviar.
—Jacqueline Kehoe, Travel + Leisure, 23 Jan. 2025
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Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2025
The tribe’s work on the land includes herring restoration, oyster restoration, and native tree planting.
—Joseph Lee, Vox, 26 Nov. 2024
River herring, shad, eel, and sea lamprey are among some of the marine life the river is inaccessible to.
—Julia Gordon, Hartford Courant, 20 Jan. 2025
Opened in 2021, this stylish contemporary hotel — with its antler chandeliers and oversize firewood racks — is evidence of the direction the county is moving: less herring and cheese curds, more cocktails and caviar.
—Jacqueline Kehoe, Travel + Leisure, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for herring
Dictionary Entries Near herring
Cite this Entry
“Herring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herring. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
herring
noun
her·ring
ˈher-iŋ 
plural herring or herrings
: a valuable food fish that is very common in the north Atlantic Ocean
also
: any of various fishes like this one or related to it
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