mosquito
noun
any of numerous dipterous insects of the family Culicidae, the females of which suck the blood of animals and humans, some species transmitting certain diseases, as malaria and yellow fever.
mosquito
1 American
[muh-skee-toh]
/ məˈski toʊ /
noun
-
mosquitoes,
plural
-
mosquitos
plural
-
any of numerous dipterous insects of the family Culicidae, the females of which suck the blood of animals and humans, some species transmitting certain diseases, as malaria and yellow fever.
-
Military. Mosquito, a twin-engined, two-seat British fighter and bomber of World War II, made largely of plywood and having a top speed of 380 miles per hour (610 km/h).
Mosquito
2
American
[muh-skee-toh]
/ məˈski toʊ /
noun
-
Mosquitos,
plural
-
Mosquito
plural
mosquito
British
/ məˈskiːtəʊ /
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of mosquito
First recorded in 1575–85; from Spanish, equivalent to mosc(a) “fly” (from Latin musca ) + -ito diminutive suffix
Explanation
A mosquito is a tiny stinging insect that leaves an itchy welt on your skin. Between its annoying bites and its ability to spread disease, the mosquito is not the most popular of insects (unlike the fair ladybug). Male mosquitoes feed on nectar and live only a few days, while females need to feed on blood in order for their eggs to develop and be laid. Female mosquitoes, therefore, can be a nuisance on summer evenings, and can even be downright dangerous in tropical areas where they often spread diseases like malaria. In Spanish, mosquito means "little gnat," from mosca, "gnat or fly."
Vocabulary lists containing mosquito
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Smit means smiling and his last name means mosquito, Arora said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
The technology emerged from research focused on making military uniforms more resistant to mosquito bites and improving comfort for soldiers wearing body armor.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026
The lifespan of a mosquito is dependent on several factors including species, temperature, humidity, gender and time of year, according to the Mosquito and Vector Control Assn. of California.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
Only when they reviewed the images did the Grammatico twins realise they had captured a mosquito resting on the head of a fer-de-lance viper.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
He flicked the end of the reins at a mosquito.
From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson
"With climate change, we're sitting on a ticking time bomb," the 32-year-old founder of Bee Safe Mosquito Control tells AFP.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
“Florida is on the front lines,” John-Paul Mutebi, director of Miami-Dade County’s Mosquito Control division, told me.
From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026
Even the Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control District board of trustees — on which Hale recently served as president — has been the subject of controversy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 27, 2026
PG&E said it offered Mosquito fire victims who lost their homes $500 per square foot and $9,200 per acre for those whose lots did not exceed 5 acres.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2025
“But you went turtle-ing for years off the Mosquito Coast and your eyes are good.”
From "The Old Man and The Sea" by Ernest Hemingway
Mosquitos have spread, due to stagnant waters following the flooding.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 13, 2022
Mosquitos themselves were also among their ranks, further transmitting the deadly disease with each new bite.
From Salon ● Feb. 26, 2022
The images made by the unit flying in a variety of aircraft, including Mosquitos and Spitfires, helped in the planning of major milestones of the war, including the D-Day landings and the Dambusters raid.
From BBC ● Dec. 5, 2021
The Blair-Pongracic Band with the Atomic Mosquitos Two instrumental surf bands perform.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 13, 2017
Mosquitos and flies of course are numerous, particularly near woods, and especially near water.
From Blanco y Colorado Old Days among the Gauchos of Uruguay by William C. Tetley
"Programming without electricity or an internet connection is a problem... you can either come here to play or stay behind during a blackout, get bitten by mosquitoes, and catch dengue," he said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
The California Department of Public Health reports that West Nile virus activity in the state, which is transmitted from infected mosquitoes, has reached a five-year high, with over 250 cases to date and 19 fatalities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
“Their lifespan is determined by humidity, so if you have humidity, the infected mosquitoes will live longer and infect more people.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
Among the most common genetic traces in Neanderthal tartar were remains from Diptera, the insect group that includes flies and mosquitoes.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026
Most of the people in my group got it at some time or other, because mosquitoes carry it and they were always pestering us.
From "Lost Boy, Lost Girl" by John Bul Dau
But as temperatures rise worldwide, these disease-carrying mosquitos are now moving into new areas, including Europe and the Mediterranean.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Those around him fell sick, exposed to relentless mosquitos.
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
The kingdom of animals is a broad category that includes everything from mosquitos to chimpanzees.
From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2024
Everything you need to know to protect yourself from mosquitos while hiking and camping in Southern California.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2024
Still, those guys are not flies and mosquitos.
From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
