fruit fly

noun

: any of various small dipteran flies (such as a drosophila) whose larvae feed on fruit or decaying vegetable matter

Examples of fruit fly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rinse your bananas from now on, and say farewell to fruit flies! —Christine Fiorentino, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2026

Meanwhile, 13 eateries received citations for health code violations including food debris, fruit flies and . —Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado april 10, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026

Health inspectors also observed a live mouse in a trashcan and fruit flies. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2026

Take FlyBase — an online database of the Drosophila melanogaster (otherwise known as the fruit fly) genome, which for more than 30 years has been an essential resource for researchers studying everything from cancer genes to neurodegeneration to the fundamental mechanisms of inheritance. —Megan Molteni, STAT, 27 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1753, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fruit fly

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

Kids Definition

fruit fly

noun

: any of various small two-winged flies whose larvae feed on fruit or decaying vegetable matter

Medical Definition

fruit fly

noun

: any of various small dipteran flies (as a drosophila) whose larvae feed on fruit or decaying vegetable matter