vampire bat

noun

: any of several bats (Desmodus rotundus, Diaemus youngi, and Diphylla ecaudata of the subfamily Desmodontinae of the family Phyllostomidae) of Mexico and Central and South America that feed on the blood of birds and mammals and especially domestic animals and that are sometimes vectors of disease and especially of rabies
also : any of several other bats (as of the families Megadermatidae and Phyllostomidae) that do not feed on blood but are sometimes reputed to do so

Illustration of vampire bat

Illustration of vampire bat

Examples of vampire bat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Then, of course, there are vampire bats, which drink blood (though rarely that of humans). Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2024 Jared Leto plays the titular doctor who splices vampire bat genes with his own to reverse his blood disorder. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2024 The common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, is the most abundant. Sebastian Stockmaier, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2024 Played by Jared Leto, Dr. Michael Morbius is a scientist whose work with artificial blood, designed to cure his rare blood illness, leads him into a gene-splicing experiment with vampire bats — which turns him into a vampire. Will Harris, EW.com, 30 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for vampire bat 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vampire bat.' 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

1790, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vampire bat was in 1790

Dictionary Entries Near vampire bat

Cite this Entry

“Vampire bat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vampire%20bat. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

vampire bat

noun
: any of three bats of Mexico and Central and South America that feed on blood especially of domestic animals and sometimes carry and pass on diseases (as rabies)
also : any of several other bats that do not feed on blood but are sometimes said to do so

Medical Definition

vampire bat

noun
: any of several Central and South American bats (Desmodus rotundus, Diaemus youngi, and Diphylla ecaudata) that feed on the blood of birds and mammals and especially domestic animals and that are sometimes vectors of disease and especially of rabies
also : any of several other bats that do not feed on blood but are sometimes reputed to do so

More from Merriam-Webster on vampire bat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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