damselfly

American  

[dam-zuhl-flahy] / ˈdæm zəlˌflaɪ /

noun

damselflies plural

1. any of numerous slender, nonstinging insects of the order Odonata (suborder Zygoptera), distinguished from the dragonflies by having the wings folded back in line with the body when at rest.

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damselfly British  

/ ˈdæmzəlˌflaɪ /

noun

1. any insect of the suborder Zygoptera similar to but smaller than dragonflies and usually resting with the wings closed over the back: order Odonata

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• damselflies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of damselfly

First recorded in 1805–15; damsel + fly ¹

Example Sentences

A first-of-its-kind study of dragonfly and damselfly species in India's Western Ghats - one of the world's most important biodiversity hotspots - has revealed findings that are both fascinating and worrying.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

For over 20 years, a research team at Lund University in Sweden has studied the common bluetail damselfly.

From Science Daily • Nov. 17, 2023

The most underrepresented species, the researchers found, include critically endangered ones like the dinosaur ant of southern Australia, the crimson Hawaiian damselfly, and the harnessed tiger moth found in eastern North America.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2023

Urban damselfly larvae are far better than rural damselfly larvae at encountering and gobbling up rural water fleas, for example.

From Scientific American • Mar. 25, 2022

She gobbled it down and chased a damselfly out the open door into the yard.

From "Beyond the Bright Sea" by Lauren Wolk