menhaden Syllabification: (men·ha·den)Pronunciation: /menˈhādn, mən-/Definition of menhaden noun a large deep-bodied fish of the herring family that occurs along the east coast of North America. The oil-rich flesh is used to make fish meal and fertilizer. Genus Brevoortia, family Clupeidae: several species, in particular B. tyrannus Origin: late 18th century: from Algonquianmenhaden in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of menhaden in the British & World English dictionary