shad

noun

plural shad
: any of several fishes (especially genus Alosa) of the shad family that have a relatively deep body and are anadromous and that include some important food fishes of Europe and North America

Examples of shad in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For the eels, the removal will reconnect more than 183 miles of habitat, according to American Rivers, and 65 miles for river herring and shad. Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 16 July 2024 The dam removals promise ecosystem benefits by returning rivers to their natural states, including by reopening upriver habitats to migratory fish like American eels, river herring and shad. Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 16 July 2024 Since then, the fishing market has exploded with options from the Doomsday Tackle C-Shad (modeled after a photo of a threadfin shad), to the YUM Sonar Minnow that produced half of Jason Christie’s fish during his 2022 Bassmaster Classic win at Lake Hartwell. David A. Brown, Field & Stream, 27 June 2024 Woodworth said there are five migratory fish affected by the dam: American eel, sea lamprey, blueback herring, alewife and American shad. Ed Stannard, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for shad 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English *shad, from Old English sceadd

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shad was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near shad

Cite this Entry

“Shad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shad. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

shad

noun
plural shad
: any of several sea fishes that are related to the herrings, swim up rivers to lay or fertilize eggs, and include important food fishes

More from Merriam-Webster on shad

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!