plural hornets
: any of the larger vespid wasps (genus Vespa) that usually build large papery nests in shrubs and trees see also european hornet, northern giant hornet, yellow-legged hornet compare bald-faced hornet
Examples of hornet in a Sentence
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 2011 to 2021, there were 788 deaths in the United States attributed to stings from hornets, wasps, and bees, averaging about 72 deaths per year.
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Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
The three most commonly encountered are hornets, paper wasps and yellow jackets.
—Gabrielle Chenault, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Between 2011 and 2021, an average of 72 deaths per year came from hornets, wasps and bee stings, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
Marcos Lopez bonded out of jail and the crowd of reporters looked like a swarm of hornets.
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2025
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Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
The three most commonly encountered are hornets, paper wasps and yellow jackets.
—Gabrielle Chenault, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Between 2011 and 2021, an average of 72 deaths per year came from hornets, wasps and bee stings, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
Marcos Lopez bonded out of jail and the crowd of reporters looked like a swarm of hornets.
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hornet
Cite this Entry
“Hornet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hornet. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hornet
noun
hor·net
ˈhȯr-nət 
: any of the larger wasps that live in colonies
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