stinger

American  

[sting-er] / ˈstɪŋ ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that stings.

2. an animal or plant having a stinging organ.

3. the sting or stinging organ of an insect or other animal.

4. Informal. a stinging blow, remark, or the like.

5. a cocktail made of brandy and crème de menthe.

6. Military. Stinger, a U.S. Army shoulder-launched, heat-seeking antiaircraft missile with a range of 3 miles (5 kilometers).

7. British Informal. a highball of whiskey and soda.

8. Television.

   1. a clip appearing during or after the closing credits of a show or movie.

      The next season’s new cast member appears briefly in the stinger.

   2. sting.

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ˈstinger ¹ British  

/ ˈstɪŋə /

noun

1. a person, plant, animal, etc, that stings or hurts

2. any marine creature that stings its victims, esp the box jellyfish

3. Also: stengah.  a whisky and soda with crushed ice

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Stinger ² British  

/ ˈstɪŋə /

noun

1. a device, consisting of a long track of raised spikes, laid across a road by police to puncture the tyres of escaping vehicles

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stinger Scientific  

/ stĭng′ər /

1. A sharp stinging organ, such as that of a bee, scorpion, or stingray. Stingers usually inject venom.

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Etymology

Origin of stinger

First recorded in 1545–55; sting + -er ¹

Example Sentences

The stinger comes when Alfredo’s father convinces Violetta to leave his son to free the family from scandal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

For many people, even glimpsing a hornet's stinger is enough to cause alarm.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2025

“Tron: Ares” does so in the closing moments of the movie’s main story as well as in a stinger that plays after the credits start to roll.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2025

Scientists and amateur naturalists have observed a remarkable range of species not usually widespread in UK waters, including octopus, bluefin tuna and mauve stinger jellyfish.

From BBC • Aug. 10, 2025

I threw another jab, one I knew was a stinger.

From "When I Was the Greatest" by Jason Reynolds