English Reference
noun

herring

n.
US /ˈhɛɹɪŋ/ UK /hˈɛɹɪŋ/ her·ring UK spelling herring's, herring's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Science

    a small, oily silver fish that lives in the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans.

    any of several small, silver-coloured oily fish of the family Clupeidae, particularly those of the genus Clupea.

    Simple

    The fishermen returned to the harbour with nets full of fresh herring.

    In context

    Herring populations are vital to the marine food web, serving as a primary energy source for larger predators like cod and seals.

    clupeid
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Cooking

    the meat of this fish, often served pickled, smoked, or salted.

    the flesh of the herring used as food, frequently preserved through pickling, salting, or smoking.

    Simple

    In many Northern European countries, people enjoy pickled herring for breakfast.

    In context

    The traditional platter featured smoked herring served alongside dark rye bread and a sharp mustard sauce.

    kippersoused herring

The Jason Arday case is in danger of becoming a red herring when it comes to quality control of university appointments.

The Guardian· 12 Aug 2026

Their rations consisted of little more than herring, maggot-infested biscuits and salted beef.

The Conversation· 27 Jul 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated