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

see also:

flea in one's ear

Illustration of flea

Examples of flea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Health officials are urging residents to take preventive measures by using flea control year-round on their pets and not feeding stray animals. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Before releasing the ferrets, scientists dust prairie dog burrows with insecticide and scatter food pellets laced with fipronil, the same chemical used in flea control among pets. — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Others say services didn’t fully resolve their pest issues, especially with rodents, mosquitoes, termites or fleas. — Alora Bopray, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2026

After a flea flicker led to a pass interference penalty on the Seahawks, the Patriots took over inside the five-yard line. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026

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 in one's ear
• 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