bedbug

noun

bed·​bug ˈbed-ˌbəg How to pronounce bedbug (audio)
: a wingless bloodsucking hemipterous bug (especially Cimex lectularius) sometimes infesting houses and especially beds and feeding on human blood

Illustration of bedbug

Illustration of bedbug

Examples of bedbug in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The cruise line also has a dedicated bedbug detection and treatment plan, according to its website. Nathan Diller, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025 Mattresses And Futons Mattresses, box springs, and futons are often contaminated with allergens and pests like bedbugs. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025 The most terrifying words my Southern mother could ever hear was bedbugs. Rosalind Bowling, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Sep. 2025 Its use in the hotel room is a form of pest control, typically targeting bedbugs. Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bedbug

Word History

First Known Use

1694, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bedbug was in 1694

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Cite this Entry

“Bedbug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bedbug. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

bedbug

noun
bed·​bug ˈbed-ˌbəg How to pronounce bedbug (audio)
: a wingless bloodsucking bug sometimes infesting houses and especially beds

Medical Definition

bedbug

noun
bed·​bug ˈbed-ˌbəg How to pronounce bedbug (audio)
: a wingless bloodsucking bug (Cimex lectularius) sometimes infesting houses and especially beds and feeding on human blood

called also chinch

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