What does herring mean?
Herring is the common English name for small, silvery marine fish in the family Clupeidae. The best-known species, Atlantic herring, lives in the North Atlantic and has long been an important food fish, valued fresh but especially when smoked, salted, or pickled. Its collective plural is usually “herring,” although “herrings” is also acceptable in some contexts. The word also appears in the established expression “red herring,” meaning a deliberate distraction or misleading clue. Herring are schooling fish known for moving in large, coordinated groups, and their importance to coastal communities is reflected in their place in European and North American food traditions. In ordinary use, “herring” is direct and largely neutral, while phrases such as “red herring” carry the figurative sense of misdirection. It is a useful word because it names both a familiar food and a common source of figurative language.
nounHerring is a small, silvery marine fish of the family Clupeidae, found in the Atlantic and North Pacific and valued as food. The word is also used in the idiom “red herring” for a deliberate distraction or misleading clue.
- A small, silvery marine fish of the family Clupeidae, especially Atlantic herring, commonly eaten fresh, smoked, salted, or pickled.
- In the phrase “red herring,” something introduced to distract attention or mislead, especially in an argument or investigation.
"We served smoked herring with rye bread and pickled onions."
"The fishermen returned with several crates of fresh herring."
"The seemingly relevant document was a red herring."
The plural is normally “herring” when referring to the fish collectively; “herrings” is also accepted, particularly when referring to individual fish or a collection.
"The harbor was filled with herring."
Herring are famous for travelling and feeding in tightly coordinated schools, creating shimmering underwater formations that can be seen from the surface.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does herring come from?
English “herring” descends from Old English hǣring, which continued a Germanic word for the fish inherited from Proto-Germanic *heringaz. Its close cognates include Dutch haring, German Hering, and Swedish haring. The word therefore reflects a shared Germanic origin, while the modern English form and its food-related uses developed through centuries of Old and Middle English.
Related word forms
How herring is actually used
The word is standard in British and American English. When referring to the fish collectively, the plural is usually “herring”; “herrings” is also accepted when individual fish or a collection is intended. “Red herring” is idiomatic and means a false lead, not a type of fish.
Easily confused with herring
A herring is a distinct small, silvery fish, whereas a sardine is a smaller member of the same general fish family, and both may be eaten fresh or preserved.