flea

noun

ˈflē 

: any of an order (Siphonaptera) of small wingless bloodsucking insects that have a hard laterally compressed body and legs adapted to leaping and that feed on warm-blooded animals

Illustration of flea

Phrases

flea in one's ear

: rebuke

sent him away with a flea in his ear

Examples of flea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One tendency breaker was the flea flicker to Raridon. —Pete Sampson, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025

Pets that bring fleas indoors, wildlife in neighborhoods and even brush piles in the yard can all increase the risk. —Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025

From food and flea protection to chew toys and treats, the costs add up fast. —Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025

Covered in fleas, stickers, fur matted, hadn’t been groomed, and scared. —Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fle, from Old English flēa; akin to Old High German flōh flea

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing flea

• beach flea
• fit as a flea
• flea beetle
• flea-bitten
• flea collar
• flea-flicker
• flea market
• jigger flea
• sand flea
• water flea

Rhymes for flea

• be
• bee
• bree
• cree
• fee
• flee
• free
• gee
• ghee
• glee
• he
• ki

Kids Definition

flea

noun

ˈflē 

: any of an order of small wingless bloodsucking insects with a hard body and legs used for leaping

Medical Definition

flea

noun

ˈflē 

: any of the order Siphonaptera comprising wingless bloodsucking insects that have a hard laterally compressed body and legs adapted to leaping and that feed on warm-blooded animals see cat flea, chigoe sense 1, dog flea, rat flea, sand flea, sticktight flea