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

Noun Inflected Forms

• damselflies
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of damselfly

First recorded in 1805–15; damsel + fly ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

damselfly damselflies

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

From Science Daily ● Nov. 17, 2023

Gustav Parenmark, 16, from Sweden, won the under-18 category with a picture of a blue-tailed damselfly, entitled Fresh Out Of The Shower.

From BBC ● Jun. 18, 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

In other words, when rural or city damselfly and flea populations are matched, there seems to be more balance—as you’d expect if two populations are evolving in step with each other.

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

"Dragonflies and damselflies are good indicators of the health of a region. Consequently, when their numbers drop, it could signal the potential degradation of an ecosystem," Koparde says.

From BBC ● May 2, 2026

Hoyte notes, as has Andrus, that the paddies encourage ecological and wildlife diversity, attracting dragonflies, damselflies, frogs and many kinds of birds.

From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2023

Then, the new new normal: a mass extinction of insects, a “bug apocalypse” that causes Ottilie’s crickets to die in droves and untold numbers of damselflies and moths to blanket the ground like “beige snow.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2023

A towering magenta bromeliad with a pool at its core is home to frogs and damselflies.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 29, 2022

Comparable arrangements can be found in damselflies, Humboldt squid, garter snakes, penguins and cattle.

From New York Times ● Nov. 26, 2019

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