housefly

American  

[hous-flahy] / ˈhaʊsˌflaɪ /

Or house fly

noun

plural

houseflies

1. a medium-sized, gray-striped fly, Musca domestica, common around human habitations in nearly all parts of the world.

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housefly British  

/ ˈhaʊsˌflaɪ /

noun

1. a common dipterous fly, Musca domestica, that frequents human habitations, spreads disease, and lays its eggs in carrion, decaying vegetables, etc: family Muscidae

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Etymology

Origin of housefly

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at house, fly ¹

Example Sentences

The Oriental fruit fly, which is slightly larger than a housefly at around 8 millimeters long, is generally bright yellow.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 25, 2024

This one guy was just like a housefly.

From Salon • Jun. 18, 2023

Not really — though there is a nifty one-shot chase sequence where Lillis’ druid hastily shape-shifts among a housefly, a mouse, a cat and a deer.

From New York Times • Mar. 30, 2023

If you see a dead housefly on a windowsill surrounded by a ghostly halo of tiny white spores, it’s a death trap.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 1, 2021

Scientists at the Department of Agriculture laboratory in Orlando, Florida, are now sterilizing the housefly in laboratory experiments and even in some field trials, using chemicals incorporated in suitable foods.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson