midge

American  

[mij] / mɪdʒ /

noun

1. any of numerous minute dipterous insects, especially of the family Chironomidae, somewhat resembling a mosquito.

2. Chiefly British. a little person.

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midge British  

/ mɪdʒ /

noun

1. any fragile mosquito-like dipterous insect of the family Chironomidae, occurring in dancing swarms, esp near water

2. any similar or related insect, such as the biting midge and gall midge

3. a small or diminutive person or animal

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Other Word Forms

• midgy adjective

Etymology

Origin of midge

First recorded before 900; Middle English mygge, Old English mycg; cognate with German Mücke, Old Norse mȳ; akin to Greek myîa, Latin musca “fly”

Example Sentences

Because the midge has no known land based predators, plastic it consumes is unlikely to move far up the food chain.

From Science Daily • Feb. 16, 2026

The species at the center of the study, Belgica antarctica, is a nonbiting midge, which is a small fly about the size of a grain of rice.

From Science Daily • Feb. 16, 2026

Terrifying as that is, the eye midge manages to be scarier.

From Salon • Sep. 18, 2025

Wales' chief vet Richard Irvine said bluetongue, a virus transmitted by midge bites that affects cattle, sheep and goats, was "a potentially devastating disease".

From BBC • Aug. 18, 2025

In nature it is kept in check by various predators such as ladybugs, a gall midge, predaceous mites and several pirate bugs, all of them extremely sensitive to insecticides.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson