Illustration of carpenter ant
carpenter ant
noun
: an ant (especially genus Camponotus) that gnaws galleries especially in dead or decaying wood
Examples of carpenter ant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Researchers have observed Florida carpenter ants (Camponotus floridanus) biting off the injured legs of their nestmates.
—
Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 July 2024
However, carpenter ants, amongst other communities, have lost this ability due to evolution.
—Jennifer Vilcarino, ABC News, 3 July 2024
But the Florida carpenter ant (Camponotus floridanus)—a centimeter-long insect native to the southern United States—lost that gland over evolutionary time.
—Byhumberto Basilio, science.org, 2 July 2024
But over time, some species — including Camponotus floridanus, also known as carpenter ants — have evolutionarily lost them.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 3 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for carpenter ant 
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.
Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 July 2024
However, carpenter ants, amongst other communities, have lost this ability due to evolution.
—Jennifer Vilcarino, ABC News, 3 July 2024
But the Florida carpenter ant (Camponotus floridanus)—a centimeter-long insect native to the southern United States—lost that gland over evolutionary time.
—Byhumberto Basilio, science.org, 2 July 2024
But over time, some species — including Camponotus floridanus, also known as carpenter ants — have evolutionarily lost them.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 3 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for carpenter ant
Dictionary Entries Near carpenter ant
Cite this Entry
“Carpenter ant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carpenter%20ant. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share