mussel

noun

mus·​sel ˈmə-səl How to pronounce mussel (audio)
1
: a marine bivalve mollusk (especially genus Mytilus) usually having a dark elongated shell
2
: a freshwater bivalve mollusk (as of Unio, Anodonta, or related genera) that is especially abundant in rivers of the central U.S. and has a shell lined with mother-of-pearl

Examples of mussel 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.
Health officials also offer cooking instructions for clams, mussels and other shellfish. — ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026 Mussels Like oysters, mussels are a source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. — Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 6 Aug. 2026 The restaurant will serve crispy tamarind wings, coconut mussels, rice flour crepes and many varieties of pho, from flank and brisket to rare eye round. — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026 Not surprisingly, seafood is central to the local cuisine, with such dishes as sole sablaise, a local fish; cuttlefish stew; and mouclade, a mussel dish, among the specialties. — Catherine Sabino, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mussel

Word History

Etymology

Middle English muscle, from Old English muscelle, from Vulgar Latin *muscula, from Latin musculus muscle, mussel

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mussel was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing mussel

Rhymes for mussel

See All Rhymes for mussel

Browse Nearby Words

mussalchee
mussel
mussel bill
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mussel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mussel. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

mussel

noun
mus·​sel ˈməs-əl How to pronounce mussel (audio)
1
: any of various edible saltwater mollusks with a long dark hinged double shell
2
: any of numerous freshwater mollusks of rivers of the central U.S. whose hinged double shells are lined with mother-of-pearl

More from Merriam-Webster on mussel

Nglish: Translation of mussel for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mussel

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of circumscribe

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All