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
What ticks to look out for One of the primary tick species to be wary of in the U.S. is the black-legged tick, also called the deer tick or the bear tick.
—
Margie Cullen, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
According to the Mayo Clinic, the black-legged tick is mainly found in the eastern half of the U.S., along with the Midwest.
—Margie Cullen, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
The most common way to get Lyme disease is through the bite of the black-legged tick (also called the deer tick) or the western black-legged tick.1
These ticks carry and spread the bacterial strains that cause Lyme disease, specifically Borrelia burgdorferi and, rarely, Borrelia mayonii.
—Jennifer Welsh Published, Verywell Health, 3 Feb. 2025
Certain species, such as the black-legged tick (also known as the deer tick), are known to transmit Lyme disease, which can affect both dogs and humans.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2024
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.
Margie Cullen, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
According to the Mayo Clinic, the black-legged tick is mainly found in the eastern half of the U.S., along with the Midwest.
—Margie Cullen, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
The most common way to get Lyme disease is through the bite of the black-legged tick (also called the deer tick) or the western black-legged tick.1
These ticks carry and spread the bacterial strains that cause Lyme disease, specifically Borrelia burgdorferi and, rarely, Borrelia mayonii.
—Jennifer Welsh Published, Verywell Health, 3 Feb. 2025
Certain species, such as the black-legged tick (also known as the deer tick), are known to transmit Lyme disease, which can affect both dogs and humans.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2024
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 5 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
black-legged tick
nounLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share