proboscis

noun

pro·​bos·​cis prə-ˈbä-səs  -ˈbä-skəs 

plural proboscises also proboscides prə-ˈbä-sə-ˌdēz 

1

a

: the trunk of an elephant

also : any long flexible snout

b

: the human nose especially when prominent

2

: any of various elongated or extensible tubular processes (such as the sucking organ of a butterfly) of the oral region of an invertebrate

Illustration of proboscis

• P proboscis 2

Synonyms of proboscis

• snout
• nose

Examples of proboscis in a Sentence

if there were a direct relation between mendacity and the length of one's proboscis, hers would be a mile long

Recent Examples on the Web

Other animals can crush the ultra-tough shells of pollen grains with teeth, jaws, or other similar body parts; butterflies have only a proboscis, a flexible, strawlike structure usually reserved for sipping liquid. —Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026

The brain bug's intrinsic ick factor is undeniably high, but using their proboscises to suck thoughts directly from the brains of their unfortunate victims is a pretty neat party trick. —Richard Edwards, Space.com, 2 Apr. 2026

Their tongues and proboscises are much shorter than a hummingbird's tongue, which can dip down twice the length of its beak. —Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 28 Feb. 2026

Their long proboscises, like divining rods, gently make inquiries of the stone. —Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek proboskis, from pro- + boskein to feed

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing proboscis

• proboscis monkey

Rhymes for proboscis

• colossus

Kids Definition

proboscis

noun

pro·​bos·​cis prə-ˈbäs-əs  -kəs 

plural proboscises also proboscides -ˈbäs-ə-ˌdēz 

1

: a long flexible snout

especially : the trunk of an elephant

2

: a long tube-shaped bodily part (as the sucking organ of a butterfly) in the mouth region of an invertebrate

Medical Definition

proboscis

noun

pro·​bos·​cis prə-ˈbäs-əs  -kəs 

plural proboscises also proboscides -ˈbäs-ə-ˌdēz 

: any of various elongated or extensible tubular organs or processes especially of the oral region of an invertebrate: as

a

: a sucking organ of insects (as houseflies or mosquitoes) that is often also adapted for piercing

b

: one of the complex protrusible holdfasts on the scolex of certain tapeworms