Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Rhagoletis

noun
Rhag·​o·​le·​tis | \ ˌragəˈlētə̇s\

Definition of Rhagoletis 

: a genus of trypetid flies containing many whose larvae feed on fruits and berries — see apple maggot, cherry fruit fly

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 Rhagoletis

New Latin, irregular from Greek rhag-, rhax malmignatte

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about Rhagoletis

Share Rhagoletis

Dictionary Entries near Rhagoletis

rhagionid

Rhagionidae

Rhagodia

Rhagoletis

rhagon

rhamn-

Rhamnaceae

Statistics for Rhagoletis

Look-up Popularity

Comments on Rhagoletis

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

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

farouche

marked by shyness and lack of polish

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Homophone Quiz

  • three-bears-two-of-them-look-like-theyre-whispering-to-a-third-bear-who-looks-chuffed-to-be-the-center-of-attention
  • In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a ______.
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

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