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

Illustration of black widow

Examples of black widow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Most spiders in Arizona are not venomous, but the familiar and often-feared black widow and brown recluse pack a threat. Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 16 Mar. 2024 Among these are black widow spiders; the formidable Arizona bark scorpion, known for its venomous sting; and the strikingly colored mustard yellow paper wasps, recognized for their distinctive nests and painful stings. The Arizona Republic, 14 Feb. 2024 The homes of black widow spiders reflect their practical nature; black widows spin irregular, mesh-like webs, not the artistic, symmetrical ones associated with orb-weavers. Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024 The black widow is the most harmful spider to humans in the state. oregonlive, 18 July 2023 My grandfather almost died of a black widow bite many years ago. Tim MacWelch, Outdoor Life, 3 May 2023 He’s also had to dodge other hazards, including black widow and brown recluse spiders, writes Kendall Beebe of Fox 35 Orlando. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Nov. 2022 For serious black widow infestations, use pesticides labeled appropriately for spider control. Cole Sikes Communications and Marketing Specialist Alabama Cooperative Extension System, al, 8 Aug. 2023 Kay dressed as a black widow, wearing black lipstick and lacy web tights, while her son wore a fuzzy spider costume. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 2 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'black widow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of black widow was in 1830

Dictionary Entries Near black widow

Cite this Entry

“Black widow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black%20widow. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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 How to pronounce black widow (audio)
: 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

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