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Definition of shad
shad
/ʃæd/
shad
Plural:shad
shad Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
7
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
shad Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A herring-like marine fish (family Clupeidae, primarily genus Alosa) found along the coasts of North America and Europe, known for migrating up freshwater rivers to spawn and highly valued for its flesh and roe.
Example
"Every spring, anglers eagerly await the annual shad run as the fish migrate up the Delaware River."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for shadWord Nuance & Usage
The plural form is typically 'shad' when referring to the fish collectively or as a food source, though 'shads' is occasionally used when discussing multiple distinct species.
• Rhymes for shad
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'sceadd', a word of uncertain origin, possibly related to Old Irish 'scatān' or Scottish Gaelic 'sgadan', both meaning 'herring'.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Shad. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/shad