fruit fly

noun

: any of various small dipteran flies (such as a drosophila) whose larvae feed on fruit or decaying vegetable matter

Examples of fruit fly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Signs your pears are moving past their prime include overall softness, yellowing in green varieties, brown spots, and even fruit flies. —Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026

The pesky bugs were perfect lab subjects for the project because two-thirds of the cancer-causing genes in humans are shared by fruit flies. —Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 7 Jan. 2026

Then, consider adjusting your exterior lighting by installing motion sensors and swapping standard bulbs for warm-colored LEDs—because spiders are often drawn indoors following food sources, such as moths and fruit flies, which congregate around bright lights. —Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 29 Dec. 2025

Sprinkle it on the soil to repel ants, fruit flies, aphids, mites, and other crawling insects from feeding on your plants. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1753, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fruit fly

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

Kids Definition

fruit fly

noun

: any of various small two-winged flies whose larvae feed on fruit or decaying vegetable matter

Medical Definition

fruit fly

noun

: any of various small dipteran flies (as a drosophila) whose larvae feed on fruit or decaying vegetable matter