black-legged tick
noun
ˈblak-ˈlegd- 
-ˈlāgd-;
-ˈle-gəd-,
-ˈlā-
: either of two ixodid ticks:
a
b
: a tick (Ixodes pacificus) of the western U.S. and British Columbia that is the vector of several diseases (such as Lyme disease)
Examples of black-legged tick in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The rare but increasingly prevalent Powassan virus, spread mainly by the black-legged tick, can reach the brain and cause encephalitis.
—
Kate Wong, Scientific American, 22 June 2026
Other ticks commonly found in North Carolina include the black-legged tick and American dog tick.
—Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
Adult black-legged tick activity is high and increasing in Wisconsin, the state's most recent tick surveillance report shows.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Stewart was a lead scientist on research published last year identifying a black-legged tick, or deer tick, in Montana.
—Rachana Pradhan, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for black-legged tick
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kate Wong, Scientific American, 22 June 2026
Other ticks commonly found in North Carolina include the black-legged tick and American dog tick.
—Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
Adult black-legged tick activity is high and increasing in Wisconsin, the state's most recent tick surveillance report shows.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Stewart was a lead scientist on research published last year identifying a black-legged tick, or deer tick, in Montana.
—Rachana Pradhan, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for black-legged tick
Cite this Entry
“Black-legged tick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black-legged%20tick. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
black-legged tick
nounLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
