slave-making ant

noun

slave-mak·​ing ant ˈslāv-ˌmā-kiŋ- How to pronounce slave-making ant (audio)
plural slave-making ants
: an ant (such as Formica sanguinea) that attacks the colonies of ants of other species and carries off the larvae and pupae to be reared in its own nest as workers (see worker sense 2)

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of slave-making ant was in 1817

Dictionary Entries Near slave-making ant

Cite this Entry

“Slave-making ant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slave-making%20ant. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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