Illustration of flea
: any of an order (Siphonaptera) of small wingless bloodsucking insects that have a hard laterally compressed body and legs adapted to leaping and that feed on warm-blooded animals
see also flea in one's ear
Examples of flea in a Sentence
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Many of the other dogs showed signs consistent with long-term outdoor neglect, including parasites, dental issues, and untreated medical conditions such as Giardia, fleas, and ticks.
—
Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
While they may be mistaken for fleas, springtails are small, harmless organisms that (fortunately) don’t bite, sting, or transmit disease.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 3 Feb. 2026
Workers from the center and host governments trained volunteers to teach neighbors to filter water through cloth screens, removing tiny fleas that carry the larvae.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
These include springtails such as Hypogastrura harveyi, Hypogastrura nivicola and Hypogastrura tooliki, all of which are called snow fleas.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026
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Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
While they may be mistaken for fleas, springtails are small, harmless organisms that (fortunately) don’t bite, sting, or transmit disease.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 3 Feb. 2026
Workers from the center and host governments trained volunteers to teach neighbors to filter water through cloth screens, removing tiny fleas that carry the larvae.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
These include springtails such as Hypogastrura harveyi, Hypogastrura nivicola and Hypogastrura tooliki, all of which are called snow fleas.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flea
Cite this Entry
“Flea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flea. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flea
noun
: any of an order of small wingless bloodsucking insects with a hard body and legs used for leaping
Medical Definition
flea
noun
: any of the order Siphonaptera comprising wingless bloodsucking insects that have a hard laterally compressed body and legs adapted to leaping and that feed on warm-blooded animals see cat flea, chigoe sense 1, dog flea, rat flea, sand flea, sticktight flea
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