Illustration of wasp
- wasp 1
1
: any of numerous social or solitary winged hymenopterous insects (especially families Sphecidae and Vespidae) that usually have a slender smooth body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk, well-developed wings, biting mouthparts, and in the females and workers an often formidable sting, and that are largely carnivorous and often provision their nests with insects or spiders killed or paralyzed by stinging for their larvae to feed on compare bee
2
: any of various hymenopterous insects (such as a chalcid or ichneumon wasp) other than wasps with larvae that are parasitic on other arthropods
variants
or Wasp
often attributive
sometimes disparaging
: an American of Northern European and especially British ancestry and of Protestant background
especially
: a member of the dominant and the most privileged class of people in the U.S.
Examples of wasp in a Sentence
Noun (2)
Most of the members of the club are wealthy WASPs.
The college had been known as a bastion of WASP privilege.
Recent Examples on the Web
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 11 July 2025
Michigan State researchers introduced a second wasp into the equation: the ronin wasp, another natural predator to SWD, and trying to turn a third wasp on the flies.
—Sophia Valchine, Freep.com, 9 July 2025
Cue this bug zapper—it’s made with a 4200-voltage blue-violet light and a plastic surrounding cage to attract and effectively trap pesky critters like mosquitos, gnats, moths, wasps, flies, and more.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 July 2025
Some might be surprised to learn that there are actually more than 30,000 wasp species.
—Gabrielle Chenault, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
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Noun
Use fine mesh food covers to keep wasps and flies away from your food when dining outdoors.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 11 July 2025
Michigan State researchers introduced a second wasp into the equation: the ronin wasp, another natural predator to SWD, and trying to turn a third wasp on the flies.
—Sophia Valchine, Freep.com, 9 July 2025
Cue this bug zapper—it’s made with a 4200-voltage blue-violet light and a plastic surrounding cage to attract and effectively trap pesky critters like mosquitos, gnats, moths, wasps, flies, and more.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 July 2025
Some might be surprised to learn that there are actually more than 30,000 wasp species.
—Gabrielle Chenault, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for wasp
Cite this Entry
“Wasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wasp. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wasp
1 of 2 noun
ˈwäsp 
ˈwȯsp
: any of numerous winged insects related to the bees and ants that have a slender body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk and that in females and workers are usually capable of giving a very painful sting
WASP
2 of 2 noun
variants
or Wasp
: an American of northern European and Protestant background
—sometimes used disparagingly
Medical Definition
wasp
noun
: any of numerous social or solitary winged insects (especially families Sphecidae and Vespidae) of the order Hymenoptera that usually have a slender smooth body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk, well-developed wings, biting mouthparts, and in the females and workers an often formidable sting
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