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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

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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”

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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

After brainstorming suitable targets with Claude, the team settled on designing a synthetic protein that could serve as an antidote to scorpion venom.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026

Exploring the dunes at night, Raul saw many scorpions searching for prey but as temperatures rose after sunrise, the scorpion dug into the sand to escape the intense heat.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

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

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

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

It was the "perfect ball", Higuita recalls in his Netflix documentary 'Higuita: The Way of the Scorpion'.

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2025

Only the likes of Shane Puglisi and his Scorpion Image- works had the credibility to get such a shot picked up.

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin

Exploring the dunes at night, Raul saw many scorpions searching for prey but as temperatures rose after sunrise, the scorpion dug into the sand to escape the intense heat.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

They are related to spiders, scorpions, and horseshoe crabs, but unlike their land-dwelling relatives, they remained entirely marine.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 25, 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

Its colossal curtain walls rose beside the lake, sheer and sudden as mountain cliffs, while atop their battlements the rows of wood-and-iron scorpions looked as small as the bugs for which they were named.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

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