herring: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to Formal (in literal sense). Informal in idioms/metaphors.
Quick answer
What does “herring” mean?
A silver-coloured, oily fish of the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans, often caught for food and bait.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A silver-coloured, oily fish of the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans, often caught for food and bait.
Anything figuratively resembling the fish, particularly in its use as a misleading distraction (as in a 'red herring') or as a staple, common resource.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA). The fish is culturally associated with traditional dishes in both regions (e.g., pickled herring, kippers in the UK; pickled herring in US delis).
Connotations
In the UK, strong cultural connotations with traditional breakfast (kippers) and historic fishing industries. In the US, connotations are more with European (Scandinavian, Jewish) delicatessen food.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English due to cultural and historical ties to the fishing industry, but the word is well-known in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “herring” in a Sentence
N of herring (a shoal of herring)ADJ herring (pickled herring)V herring (to catch/herring)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “herring” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The fishermen were out herring early this morning.
adjective
British English
- The herring quota was set by the EU.
American English
- They discussed herring populations in the Atlantic.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts of fisheries, aquaculture, or food import/export.
Academic
Used in marine biology, ecology, and historical economic studies (e.g., 'the herring fisheries of the North Sea').
Everyday
Most common when discussing food, fishing, or using the idiom 'red herring'.
Technical
Specific in ichthyology (family Clupeidae). Also in logic/rhetoric for the 'red herring' fallacy.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “herring”
- Misspelling as 'hering'. Using non-count form incorrectly (e.g., 'I ate some herring' is acceptable for food, but 'I saw three herrings' is correct for individual fish).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes (a herring, two herring/herrings). However, when referring to the food as a substance or dish, it can be uncountable (e.g., 'Would you like some herring?').
It's an idiom meaning a misleading clue or piece of information that diverts attention from the truth or important issue. It originates from the practice of using strong-smoked fish to train hunting dogs or throw them off a trail.
They are different species within the same family (Clupeidae). 'Sardine' usually refers to smaller, young fish, often of the genera Sardina or Sardinops, while 'herring' typically refers to fish of the genus Clupea. Many canned 'sardines' are actually young herring.
Kippers are a specific preparation of herring. A kipper is a whole herring that has been split, gutted, salted or pickled, and cold-smoked.
A silver-coloured, oily fish of the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans, often caught for food and bait.
Herring is usually neutral to formal (in literal sense). informal in idioms/metaphors. in register.
Herring: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɛrɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɛrɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “red herring (a misleading clue)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'HERRING' as a 'HERR' (German for 'Mr.') with a RING. Imagine a formal Mr. Fish wearing a silver ring. The silver colour matches the fish.
Conceptual Metaphor
A HERRING IS A DISTRACTION (via 'red herring'). A HERRING IS A PLENTIFUL RESOURCE ('they are as plentiful as herring').
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'red herring' used as a formal concept?