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• scorpion
  scorpion

  noun

  any of numerous arachnids of the order Scorpionida, widely distributed in warmer parts of the world, having a long, narrow, segmented tail that terminates in a venomous sting.
• Scorpion
  Scorpion

  noun

  the constellation Scorpio, the eighth sign of the zodiac

scorpion

American  

[skawr-pee-uhn] / ˈskɔr pi ən /

noun

• scorpions
  plural

1. any of numerous arachnids of the order Scorpionida, widely distributed in warmer parts of the world, having a long, narrow, segmented tail that terminates in a venomous sting.

2. Astronomy. the Scorpion, Scorpius.

3. any of various harmless lizards, especially the red- or orange-headed males of certain North American skinks.

4. Bible. a whip or scourge that has spikes attached. 1 Kings 12:11.

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scorpion ¹ British  

/ ˈskɔːpɪən /

noun

1. any arachnid of the order Scorpionida, of warm dry regions, having a segmented body with a long tail terminating in a venomous sting

2. any small nonvenomous arachnid of the order Pseudoscorpionida (or Chelonethida ), which superficially resemble scorpions but lack the long tail See book scorpion

3. any of various other similar arachnids, such as the whip scorpion, or other arthropods, such as the water scorpion

4. Old Testament a barbed scourge (I Kings 12:11)

5. history a war engine for hurling stones; ballista

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Scorpion ² British  

/ ˈskɔːpɪən /

noun

1. the constellation Scorpio, the eighth sign of the zodiac

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• scorpionic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• scorpions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of scorpion

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Latin scorpiōn- (stem of scorpiō ), equivalent to scorp(ius) “scorpion” (from Greek skorpíos ) + -iōn- noun suffix, perhaps after pāpiliō (stem pāpiliōn- ) “butterfly,” or stelliō (stem stelliōn- ) “gecko”

Explanation

A scorpion is a fierce little predator with a curvy tail known for delivering a sharp, venomous sting. Scorpions are a tough species, having been around for about 430 million years! They are known for their venomous stingers, used both to snatch prey and scare off foes. Despite their fierce reputation, most scorpions aren’t deadly to humans, but their sting is still painful enough to make anyone want to keep their distance.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scorpion Scorpion scorpions

Finding such an enormous scorpion so early in the history of terrestrial life challenges traditional ideas about why prehistoric arthropods sometimes evolved to gigantic sizes.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 2, 2026

The movie was such a cultural phenomenon when it came out — the soundtrack was so popular, people wore the scorpion jacket.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

To avoid the high prices of Scotch bonnets, she also uses locally grown Moruga scorpion peppers, which are native to Trinidad.

From BBC ● May 31, 2026

The turtle agrees to carry the scorpion across the river after being reassured that he will not sting him, since doing so would doom them both.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026

Mom and Dad were out exploring in the desert when Lori, who was four, turned over a rock and the scorpion hiding under it stung her leg.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

Havana carried out an elaborate project called Operation Scorpion to spy on the organization and track its flights.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 24, 2026

Scorpion stings are an often overlooked public health problem, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 18, 2026

This elicited a strong reaction from some Zambians online, for example there were dozens of mocking comments on the Zambian Scorpion Facebook group.

From BBC ● Feb. 7, 2026

In 2022, Scorpion Capital released a 183-page critique, and in March of last year, Kerrisdale Capital Management wrote that IonQ delivered “limited, error-prone systems.”

From Barron's ● Feb. 4, 2026

“I heard you got lost yesterday,” Scorpion said.

From "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth

Those newer remains revealed anatomical traits found specifically in scorpions, giving scientists the evidence needed to reassess Praearcturus.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 2, 2026

Shooting on location meant dealing with typhoons, scorpions and snakes, and working with kids meant shorter work days.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2026

It was infested with so many scorpions that anyone entering the bathroom at night carried a flashlight.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026

Wildlife enthusiast Fred, who had just turned six at the time of filming in the summer and autumn of 2024, enjoyed spotting scorpions, snakes, monkeys, monitor lizards, eagles, hermit crabs, geckos and flying lemurs.

From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2026

A dirt floor, we’d heard, meant snakes and scorpions could crawl into the house from their holes in the ground.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago