Illustration of mosquito
mosquito
noun
mos·qui·to
mə-ˈskē-(ˌ)tō 
plural mosquitoes also mosquitos
: any of a family (Culicidae) of dipteran flies with females that have a set of slender organs in the proboscis adapted to puncture the skin of animals and to suck their blood and that are in some cases vectors of serious diseases
Examples of mosquito in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In theory, that would also mean that fewer mosquitoes carry viruses that could harm humans.
—
Denise Hruby, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2025
Cities in states like Massachusetts, Florida and Colorado are expected to see surges in pests like ticks, mosquitoes, and rodents as temperatures creep back up this spring, according to a report from the National Pest Management Association.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025
Malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease found mostly in tropical countries that is spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025
Lyme disease does not spread through human milk, urine, food, or insect bites from mosquitoes or fleas.
—Jennifer Welsh Published, Verywell Health, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mosquito
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Denise Hruby, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2025
Cities in states like Massachusetts, Florida and Colorado are expected to see surges in pests like ticks, mosquitoes, and rodents as temperatures creep back up this spring, according to a report from the National Pest Management Association.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025
Malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease found mostly in tropical countries that is spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025
Lyme disease does not spread through human milk, urine, food, or insect bites from mosquitoes or fleas.
—Jennifer Welsh Published, Verywell Health, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mosquito
Cite this Entry
“Mosquito.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mosquito. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mosquito
noun
mos·qui·to
mə-ˈskēt-ō
plural mosquitoes also mosquitos
: any of numerous two-winged flies of which the females have a needlelike structure of the mouth region adapted to puncture the skin and suck the blood of animals
Etymology
from Spanish mosquito "mosquito," literally "little fly," from mosca "fly"
Medical Definition
mosquito
noun
mos·qui·to
mə-ˈskēt-(ˌ)ō, -ə(-w)
plural mosquitoes also mosquitos
: any of numerous dipteran flies of the family Culicidae that have a rather narrow abdomen, usually a long slender rigid proboscis, and narrow wings with a fringe of scales on the margin and usually on each side of the wing veins, that have in the male broad feathery antennae and mouthparts not fitted for piercing and in the female slender antennae and a set of needlelike organs in the proboscis with which they puncture the skin of animals to suck the blood, that lay their eggs on the surface of stagnant water, that include many species which pass through several generations in the course of a year and hibernate as adults or winter in the egg state, and that include some species which are the only vectors of certain diseases see aedes, anopheles, culex
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