lobster

noun

lob·​ster ˈläb-stər How to pronounce lobster (audio)
often attributive
1
: any of a family (Nephropidae and especially Homarus americanus) of large edible marine decapod crustaceans that have stalked eyes, a pair of large claws, and a long abdomen and that include species from coasts on both sides of the North Atlantic and from the Cape of Good Hope
2
: spiny lobster
lobsterlike
ˈläb-stər-ˌlīk How to pronounce lobster (audio)
adjective

Illustration of lobster

Illustration of lobster
  • lobster 1

Examples of lobster in a Sentence

I had lobster for dinner.
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.
The decorative Seafood Tower, for example, consists of lobster, oysters, king crab legs, crab claws and shrimp. — Jennifer Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 That’s because Maine’s goods — including lumber, blueberries, lobster, and potatoes — are often processed on the other side of the border. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 24 Aug. 2026 Collins raised concern on Saturday that a widening trade war could hurt niche industries in Maine, which relies on Canadian processing facilities across the border for its blueberries and lobster. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 24 Aug. 2026 Things to do 🧑‍🍳Famous chef Roy Choi traverses Los Angeles for lobster noodles and spicy tofu. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lobster

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English loppestre, from loppe spider

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Phrases Containing lobster

Rhymes for lobster

See All Rhymes for lobster

Browse Nearby Words

lobsided
lobster
lobsterback
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lobster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lobster. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

lobster

noun
lob·​ster ˈläb-stər How to pronounce lobster (audio)
: any of several large edible marine crustaceans with stalked eyes, a pair of large claws, and a long abdomen
also : spiny lobster

More from Merriam-Webster on lobster

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lobster

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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