conch

noun

ˈkäŋk How to pronounce conch (audio) ˈkänch How to pronounce conch (audio)
ˈkȯŋk
plural conchs ˈkäŋks How to pronounce conch (audio)
ˈkȯŋks
 or conches ˈkän-chəz How to pronounce conch (audio)
1
: any of various large spiral-shelled marine gastropod mollusks (as of the genus Strombus)
also : its shell used especially for cameos
2
often disparaging : a native or resident of the Florida Keys
3
: concha sense 2

Illustration of conch

Illustration of conch
  • conch 1

Examples of conch in a Sentence

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.
Buckets overflowed with conch and clams, and customers pointed to whole fish on ice to be cleaned and cut for dinner. — Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026 The queen conch cannot be harvested in Florida or adjacent federal waters, according to state law. — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026 The piece was heavily popularized by Native American jewelers, especially amongst the Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni tribes; Historically, Indigenous men would wear bandanas around their necks, punctuated with shells or silver conches. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026 Each market opens and closes with a blowing of the conch shell. — Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conch

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin concha mussel, mussel shell, from Greek konchē; akin to Sanskrit śaṅkha conch shell

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of conch was in 1707

Rhymes for conch

See All Rhymes for conch

Browse Nearby Words

concetto
conch
concha
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Conch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conch. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

conch

noun
ˈkäŋk How to pronounce conch (audio) ˈkänch How to pronounce conch (audio)
plural conchs ˈkäŋks How to pronounce conch (audio) or conches
ˈkän-chəz
: a large marine gastropod mollusk having a spiral shell
also : its shell

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on conch

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about conch

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