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

Byrum says the biggest challenge for Nugget was getting rid of his fleas, which covered nearly his entire body. —Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025

Grime and punishment Problems for Rupert started after Phoebe Hearst suffered a flea infestation last year. —Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025

Use flea control products to protect them from bites. —Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025

One play from Week 3 that was particularly humiliating for the Cowboys was the flea flicker that led to Williams' 65-yard pass to Luther Burden III that put them down 13-3 and seemed to set the tone for the day. —Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 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