housefly

noun

house·​fly ˈhau̇s-ˌflī 

: a cosmopolitan dipteran fly (Musca domestica) that is often about human habitations and may act as a mechanical vector of diseases (such as typhoid fever)

also : any of various flies of similar appearance or habitat

Examples of housefly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, Brundle slowly morphs into a housefly with some pretty putrid habits and a tendency to randomly lose body parts. —Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 25 Oct. 2024

This insect trap for unwanted pests Zevo Flying Insect Trap for Indoors Save 8% on this best-selling trap for fruit flies and houseflies. —Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 9 Oct. 2024

Many of the bugs that humans encounter — the mosquitoes and houseflies, cockroaches and bed bugs — are, in a word, disgusting. —Benji Jones, Vox, 18 Sep. 2024

Typically, a whole lot less than what does when the researcher runs a dangerous test on himself and accidentally splices his genes with the DNA of a common housefly. —Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

housefly

noun

house·​fly -ˌflī 

: a two-winged fly that is common about human living places and may spread disease (as typhoid fever)

Medical Definition

housefly

noun

house·​fly -ˌflī 

plural houseflies

: a cosmopolitan dipteran fly of the genus Musca (M. domestica) that is often found about human habitations and may act as a mechanical vector of diseases (as typhoid fever)

also : any of various flies of similar appearance or habitat