Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Forficulidae

plural noun
For·fi·cu·li·dae | \ ˌfȯrfə̇ˈkyüləˌdē \

Definition of Forficulidae 

: a large cosmopolitan family of insects (order Dermaptera) that have the abdomen depressed and the forceps flattened or cylindrical and that comprise the typical earwigs — see forficula

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for Forficulidae

New Latin, from Forficula, type genus + -idae

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about Forficulidae

Share Forficulidae

Resources for Forficulidae

Cite Time Traveler Time Traveler! Explore the year a word first appeared

Dictionary Entries near Forficulidae

forficiform

Forficula

forficulate

Forficulidae

forfoughen

for future reference

forgainst

Statistics for Forficulidae

Look-up Popularity

Comments on Forficulidae

What made you want to look up Forficulidae? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

secrete

to deposit or conceal in a hiding place

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Name that Food Quiz

  • alt-573b465788319
  • Name these cookies!
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games