ant

1 of 6

noun

ˈant 

: any of a family (Formicidae) of colonial hymenopterous insects with a complex social organization and various castes performing special duties

ant

2 of 6

abbreviation (1)

1

antenna

2

antonym

Ant

3 of 6

abbreviation (2)

Antarctica

ant-

4 of 6

prefix

see anti-

-ant

5 of 6

noun suffix

1

a

: one that performs (a specified action) : personal or impersonal agent

claimant

coolant

b

: thing that promotes (a specified action or process)

expectorant

2

: one connected with

annuitant

3

: thing acted upon (in a specified manner)

inhalant

-ant

6 of 6

adjective suffix

1

: performing (a specified action) or being (in a specified condition)

somnambulant

2

: promoting (a specified action or process)

expectorant

Phrases

ants in one's pants

: impatience for action or activity : restlessness

Examples of ant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Typical ant baits will kill the worker ants and leave the queen to pump out more. —Lucy Warren, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2023

Glue little ants to your napkin rings to be freaky but not too freaky. —Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 8 Aug. 2023

Lauren Reed caught an adorable video of her toddler, Maisie, introducing herself to ants. —Allison Moses, USA TODAY, 7 Aug. 2023

But honey from the ballooning ants has a different mechanism to treat ailments. —Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 31 July 2023

This simple spray hose is easy-to-use, plus this hefty formula claims to repel an array of insects like crickets, ants and fleas. —Kelsey Mulvey, Good Housekeeping, 14 July 2023

Meanwhile, the smallest is the leaf cutter ant, each of which weighs just 5 milligrams. —Teresa Nowakowski, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Aug. 2023

The stainless steel lid keeps out fruit flies and ants and blocks odors. —Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2023

Besides being a general nuisance, cockroaches and flies can spread diseases such as salmonella and dysentery, while termites, silverfish and ants chip away at the structure of your home. —Lori Keong, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English ante, emete, from Old English æmette; akin to Old High German āmeiza ant

Noun suffix

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from -ant, present participle suffix, from Latin -ant-, -ans, present participle suffix of first conjugation, from -a- (stem vowel of first conjugation) + -nt-, -ns, present participle suffix; akin to Old English -nde, present participle suffix, Greek -nt-, -n, participle suffix

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ant

• ant cow
• fire ant
• imported fire ant
• ant bear
• slave-making ant
• velvet ant
• white ant
• weaver ant
• pharaoh ant
• carpenter ant
• driver ant
• army ant
• ant lion
• red ant

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• ant cow
• fire ant
• imported fire ant
• ant bear
• slave-making ant
• velvet ant
• white ant
• weaver ant
• pharaoh ant
• carpenter ant
• driver ant
• army ant
• ant lion
• red ant

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Kids Definition

ant

1 of 4 noun

ˈant

: any of a family of small insects that are related to the bees and wasps and live in colonies in which different types of individuals perform special duties

ant-

2 of 4

see anti-

-ant

3 of 4 noun suffix

ənt,

ᵊnt

1

: one that performs a specified action

coolant

deodorant

2

: thing that is acted upon in a specified manner

inhalant

-ant

4 of 4 adjective suffix

1

: performing a specified action or being in a specified condition

propellant

2

: causing a specified action or process

Etymology

Noun suffix

derived from Latin -ant (verb or adjective suffix)