termite

American  

[tur-mahyt] / ˈtɜr maɪt /

noun

• termites
  plural

1. any of numerous pale-colored, soft-bodied, chiefly tropical social insects, of the order Isoptera, that feed on wood, some being highly destructive to buildings, furniture, etc.

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termite British  

/ ˈtɜːmaɪt, tɜːˈmɪtɪk /

noun

1. Also called: white ant.  any whitish ant-like social insect of the order Isoptera, of warm and tropical regions. Some species feed on wood, causing damage to furniture, buildings, trees, etc

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termite Scientific  

/ tûr′mīt′ /

1. Any of various pale-colored insects of the order Isoptera that live in large colonies and feed on wood. Termites resemble ants in their appearance, manner of living, and social organization, but are not closely related. Termites can be very destructive to wooden buildings and structures.

2. Also called isopteran

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• termitic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• termites
  plural

Etymology

Origin of termite

1775–85; taken as singular of New Latin termites, plural of termes white ant, Latin tarmes wood-eating worm

Explanation

A termite is a tiny insect that can cause big problems. Termites eat wood, and they can severely damage buildings. If you have termites in your house, you'd better call an exterminator. Termites live in large colonies, like ants, and they have a habit of remaining concealed from view. These characteristics, along with their taste for wood, mean they often destroy wooden houses or other structures from the inside, leaving a thin layer of wood that hides the destruction until it's too late to stop it. In some places, it's common for people to eat termites.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

termite termites

As a young numbat scoffs his breakfast – custard with "termite sprinkles" – at Perth Zoo, a keeper explains how this stud's upcoming release at Dryandra will help boost genetic diversity.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

In laboratory testing, the treatment killed about 95 percent of a colony without the mammal toxicity concerns linked to many traditional termite control methods.

From Science Daily ● May 9, 2026

The reason the chemical is so targeted comes down to the termite body plan.

From Science Daily ● May 9, 2026

High in the treetops of a South American rainforest, scientists have identified a tiny soldier termite with a surprisingly whale-like appearance.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 1, 2026

A termite mound rose not far from where she was sitting.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

Standard home inspections don’t necessarily involve checks for problems like lead, mold or termites — but that also varies by state and inspector.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026

“Cathedral termites in Australia,” Mr. Huling writes, “build mounds more than 15 feet tall, which, relative to their individual size, makes their buildings significantly larger than humanity’s tallest skyscraper is to us.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

You will not see Daleks running a seaside hotel, or yelling “exterminate” unless termites have gotten into the foundation; Cybermen will not be going into public relations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026

"It's been successfully used on subterranean termites, which are also important structural pests," Choe said.

From Science Daily ● May 9, 2026

It was during that trip, perhaps as a result of the chronic food shortage, that C. J. had taken to eating termites.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

Related Words

• ant
• aphid
• bee
• beetle
• butterfly
• cockroach
• dragonfly
• flea
• fruit fly
• gnat
• grasshopper
• ladybug
• mite
• mosquito
• moth
• pest
• spider
• tick