black widow

noun

: a venomous New World spider (Latrodectus mactans of the family Theridiidae) the female of which is black with an hourglass-shaped red mark on the underside of the abdomen

broadly : any of various related venomous spiders that have a large globular, usually glossy, dark abdomen often marked with red and long and wiry legs

Illustration of black widow

Examples of black widow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

My friend, however, is harvesting black widow spider eggs and putting the egg sacs in her freezer. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026

However, the brown recluse and black widow spiders do have dangerous venom. — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026

In reality, although the cellar spider can take down black widows and other potentially dangerous spiders, its own venom is not particularly potent. — Melissa Petruzzello, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026

Wasps top the list in Iowa, ticks take the lead in Missouri, mosquitoes pose the highest danger in New York, and black widow spiders are the main concern in Alabama and Nebraska. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for black widow

• kiddo

Kids Definition

black widow

noun

: a poisonous New World spider the female of which is black with an hourglass-shaped red mark on the underside of the abdomen

Medical Definition

black widow

noun

black wid·​ow -ˈwid-ˌō 

: a venomous New World spider of the genus Latrodectus (L. mactans) the female of which is black with an hourglass-shaped red mark on the underside of the abdomen

broadly : any other spider of the genus Latrodectus