maggot

noun

mag·​got ˈma-gət How to pronounce maggot (audio)
1
: a soft-bodied legless grub that is the larva of a dipterous insect (such as the housefly)
2
: a fantastic or eccentric idea : whim
maggoty adjective

Examples of maggot in a Sentence

The rotten meat was infested with maggots. the last maggot he got in his head resulted in a disastrous extramarital affair
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Indiana made national headlines Wednesday when media reported the FBI was investigating bugs — potentially maggots — placed in the breakfast buffet at the Chicago hotel housing our state's delegates along with those of Minnesota, Ohio, Missouri and South Dakota. Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Dec. 2024 Cows are the screwworm’s favorite feast, but the maggots can also feed on other livestock as well as wildlife and pets. Geraldine Castro, WIRED, 4 Dec. 2024 Fresh fruits and vegetables are also safe from maggots since these do not have a scent that attracts flies, but there are exceptions to this rule where maggots may eat fresh plant matter. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2024 When the eggs hatch, maggots feed on the living tissue of the host which causes severe wounds and potentially life-threatening infections. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for maggot 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English magot, probably alteration of mathek, maddok; akin to Middle Low German mēdeke maggot, Old Norse mathkr, Old English matha

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of maggot was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near maggot

Cite this Entry

“Maggot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maggot. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

maggot

noun
mag·​got ˈmag-ət How to pronounce maggot (audio)
: a soft-bodied legless larva of a two-winged fly (as the housefly)

Medical Definition

maggot

noun
mag·​got ˈmag-ət How to pronounce maggot (audio)
: a soft-bodied legless grub that is the larva of a dipteran fly (as the housefly) and develops usually in decaying organic matter or as a parasite in plants or animals

More from Merriam-Webster on maggot

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