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).
First recorded in 1575–85; from Spanish, equivalent to mosc(a) “fly” (from Latin musca ) + -ito diminutive suffix
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."
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Current treatments work reasonably well for chemical itch caused by irritants such as mosquito bites or poison ivy.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
His muddy room contains a wooden bed under a mosquito net and a simple handmade table.
From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026
Google says it’s “developing new technologies that combine sensors, algorithms and novel engineering to take advantage of unique aspects of mosquito biology to quickly and accurately sort males from females.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026
Could it do the same for mosquito control?
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026
By comparison, Abuela’s room was opulent, with its double bed, thick mattress, four bedposts from which to tie the mosquito netting, pillows, and a small crocheted rug.
From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago
In a written response addressed to the commission, a PG&E official said the pole and equipment “were not involved in the ignition” of the Mosquito fire.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 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
The Mosquito Scotland project will continue to help track their population and scientists say it will help provide a crucial early warning system for potential risk, as the species respond to environmental change.
From BBC ● Apr. 30, 2025
One of the United States’ most beloved supper clubs is Mosquito Supper Club in New Orleans.
From Salon ● Apr. 8, 2025
The following year Finlay presented his conclusions in a paper called “The Mosquito Hypothetically Considered as the Agent of Yellow Fever.”
From "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy
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 an insect known as the "bull-dog" had driven many a trapper and hunter out of the swampy regions around Hudson Bay.
From Boy Scouts in Northern Wilds by Fletcher, Archibald Lee
The virus-carrying mosquitoes and the infections that ensue are “part of our local environment and continue to reappear year after year,” Bates-Grubb said in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
Now, mosquitoes carrying West Nile have been found in 10 cities, with the latest being Fullerton and Anaheim.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
The summer humidity in Washington often attracts an unpleasant number of insects, and The Weather Channel is reporting that swarms of mosquitoes and gnats may find their way into the cage.
From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026
Why Google plans on releasing mosquitoes by the millions.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 5, 2026
Every now and then, he tugged on the bill of his cap or swatted at mosquitoes.
From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor
Those around him fell sick, exposed to relentless mosquitos.
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
To avoid contracting West Nile virus, the CDC recommends reducing outside activities during the daytime, when mosquitos are most active.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2025
Currently, there is no evidence to suggest the ongoing circulation of the virus in birds or mosquitos in the UK, the health agency said.
From BBC ● May 21, 2025
The region has also experienced outbreaks of malaria, exacerbated by the floods which leave pockets of standing water that act as breeding grounds for the mosquitos that carry the disease.
From Salon ● Apr. 9, 2025
At late afternoon, when the sun was beginning to lower and the mosquitos were beginning to rise, the green pickup truck returned.
From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt
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.
