locust

noun

lo·​cust ˈlō-kəst 

1

: short-horned grasshopper

especially : a migratory grasshopper often traveling in vast swarms and stripping the areas passed of all vegetation

2

: cicada

3

a

: any of various leguminous trees: such as

(1)

: carob sense 1

(2)

: black locust

(3)

: honey locust

b

: the wood of a locust tree

Examples of locust in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sure, there was an artificial fish powered by human heart cells and a robot that used a locust's ear to hear, but in terms of the practical use of the technology, the field has remained somewhat empty. —Michael Franco, New Atlas, 14 Feb. 2025

The now-extinct Rocky Mountain locusts once migrated across the country in waves. —Christine Peterson, Vox, 23 Dec. 2024

The first night’s open-air evening meal turned disastrous as dozens of locusts, attracted to our lights, started ping-ponging off our heads and plates. —Tanveer Badal, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Dec. 2024

Braves Luxury tax status: Over, repeat offender Preseason farm system ranking: 26th Need for starting pitching: High If not for the swarm of flesh-eating locusts that has ravaged their roster, the Braves wouldn’t have needed to make any trades at all. —Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 26 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French locuste, from Latin locusta

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing locust

• black locust
• desert locust
• honey locust
• locust bean
• seventeen-year locust

Kids Definition

locust

noun

lo·​cust ˈlō-kəst 

1

a

: short-horned grasshopper

especially : a grasshopper that often migrates in vast swarms and eats up the plants in its course

b

: cicada

2

a

: any of various trees of the legume family with hard wood

b

: the wood of a locust