filaria

1 of 2

noun (1)

fi·​lar·​ia fə-ˈler-ē-ə How to pronounce filaria (audio)
: any of numerous slender filamentous nematodes (Filaria, Wuchereria, and related genera) that as adults are parasites in the blood or tissues of mammals and as larvae usually develop in biting insects
filarial adjective
filariid adjective or noun

filaree

2 of 2

noun (2)

fil·​a·​ree
ˈfiləˌrē
variants or filaria
plural -s

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

New Latin, genus name, from Latin filum

Noun (2)

modification of American Spanish alfilerillo

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1833, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of filaria was in 1833

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Cite this Entry

“Filaria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/filaria. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

Medical Definition

filaria

noun
fi·​lar·​ia fə-ˈlar-ē-ə, -ˈler- How to pronounce filaria (audio)
1
plural filariae -ē-ˌē How to pronounce filaria (audio) -ˌī How to pronounce filaria (audio) : any of numerous slender filamentous nematodes that as adults are parasites in the blood or tissues of birds or mammals and as larvae usually develop in biting insects (as fleas or mosquitoes) that belong to the superfamily Filarioidea
2
capitalized in former classifications : a genus of nematodes that included most of the filarial worms
filarial adjective
filarial worms
filarial disease
filarial vectors
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