housefly

noun

house·fly ˈhau̇s-ˌflī

: a cosmopolitan dipteran fly (Musca domestica) that is often about human habitations and may act as a mechanical vector of diseases (such as typhoid fever)

also : any of various flies of similar appearance or habitat

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web People can be forgiving, our attention spans rival the life cycle of a housefly — one of the plot’s premises — move on. —

Karen Heller, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2023 Consider the humble housefly. —

Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 12 May 2022 This option is not made for killing bugs larger than a housefly and works best on mosquitoes. —

Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Mar. 2023 The film explores the tragic romance between scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) and journalist Ronnie Quaife (Geena Davis), whose relationship becomes complicated when Seth accidentally fuses himself with a housefly while experimenting with a teleportation device. —

Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 19 Jan. 2023 The average life span of a housefly. —

Tom Papa, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2022 What set this debate apart, aside from the two minutes of airtime garnered by a housefly, was that one participant, Pence, was allowed to exceed the time limits and did so enthusiastically while assuming all the characteristics of a classless, mansplaining jerk. —

Star Tribune, 9 Oct. 2020 While the vice-presidential debate between Republican Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris on Wednesday was more civil than that of their presidential counterparts, it may be best remembered for the housefly that stole the show. —

USA Today, 8 Oct. 2020 Some folks just can’t help being loud in bed, but noisy liaisons can lead to a swift death… at least for a housefly. —

Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 23 July 2012 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'housefly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of housefly was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Housefly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/housefly. Accessed 7 Jun. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

housefly

noun

house·fly -ˌflī

: a two-winged fly that is common about human living places and may spread disease (as typhoid fever)

Medical Definition

housefly

noun

house·fly -ˌflī

plural houseflies

: a cosmopolitan dipteran fly of the genus Musca (M. domestica) that is often found about human habitations and may act as a mechanical vector of diseases (as typhoid fever)

also : any of various flies of similar appearance or habitat