hornet

noun

hor·​net ˈhȯr-nət 

plural hornets

: any of the larger vespid wasps (genus Vespa) that usually build large papery nests in shrubs and trees see also european hornet, northern giant hornet, yellow-legged hornet compare bald-faced hornet

Examples of hornet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Giant Asian hornets, the largest hornets in the world, reach up to two inches long and prey on bees and other insects. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025

Imagine not suffering existential dread over Tilly Norwood; imagine the freedom to choose to use AI for interstitial shots without kicking the Letterboxd hornets’ nest, as did the brothers Cairnes with Late Night With the Devil back in 2024. —Andy Crump, Time, 31 Oct. 2025

Another common wasp in the South is the European hornet. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2025

The winner heads into another hornet’s nest against the Toronto Blue Jays in an AL Division Series on Saturday. —Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hernet, from Old English hyrnet; akin to Old High German hornaz hornet, Latin crabro

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hornet

• Asian giant hornet
• Asian hornet
• baldfaced hornet
• European hornet
• giant hornet
• hornet's nest
• Japanese giant hornet
• murder hornet
• northern giant hornet
• white-faced hornet
• yellow legged hornet

Rhymes for hornet

• cornett

Kids Definition

hornet

noun

hor·​net ˈhȯr-nət 

: any of the larger wasps that live in colonies