dog tick

noun

: any of several ticks commonly infesting dogs: such as

Examples of dog tick in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Kansas City area is home to multiple species of these blood-sucking insects, including the American dog tick, lone star tick and deer tick. Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2024 This tick, along with the American dog tick and brown dog tick, can infect people with a potentially fatal disease called Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF).5 Where Do Ticks Bite? The first thing the tick will likely do is look for a good spot to bite. Maria Masters, Health, 9 June 2024 Several common types of ticks can be found in Michigan this season, including: American dog tick: Active from May to November in Michigan forests and grassy areas. Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 14 May 2024 The American dog tick and the brown dog tick are also responsible for spreading the Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 5 May 2024 Other ticks like the dog ticks favor hairy environments and are often found attached to the scalp. Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 16 July 2023 The range of the dog tick is spreading, and the importation of dogs carrying the ticks is not helping matters any. Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 20 June 2023 Also check your dogs because dog ticks can carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can also infect humans. Timmy Broderick, Scientific American, 14 June 2023 In the last decade, 10 non-native tick species have been identified in the state, including the Lone Star tick and the American dog tick. Annie Berman, Anchorage Daily News, 11 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dog tick.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dog tick was in 1909

Dictionary Entries Near dog tick

Cite this Entry

“Dog tick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dog%20tick. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

dog tick

noun
: a common North American tick especially of dogs and human beings that may transmit the bacterium causing Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia

Medical Definition

dog tick

noun
: any of several ticks infesting dogs and commonly other animals: as
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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