maggot

noun

mag·​got ˈma-gət 

1

: a soft-bodied legless grub that is the larva of a dipterous insect (such as the housefly)

2

: a fantastic or eccentric idea : whim

maggoty

ˈma-gə-tē 

adjective

Synonyms

• bee
• caprice
• crank
• fancy
• freak
• humor
• kink
• megrim
• notion
• vagary
• vagrancy
• whim
• whimsy
• whimsey

Examples of maggot in a Sentence

The rotten meat was infested with maggots.

the last maggot he got in his head resulted in a disastrous extramarital affair

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s different from most other types of maggots that feed on decomposing flesh. —George Petras, USA Today, 14 May 2025

In southern Texas, residents are being urged to monitor pets, livestock and wildlife for symptoms including irritated behavior; smell of decaying flesh; presence of maggots in wounds; head shaking; and loss of appetite. —Adeola Adeosun gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025

Many of the snakes were dead and covered in maggots and had been left in the same containers as some of the living snakes, per the sheriff’s office. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 15 Apr. 2025

There were 50 to 100 maggots, one nurse reportedly told the health department. —Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English magot, probably alteration of mathek, maddok; akin to Middle Low German mēdeke maggot, Old Norse mathkr, Old English matha

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing maggot

• apple maggot

Rhymes for maggot

• agate
• fagot

Kids Definition

maggot

noun

mag·​got ˈmag-ət 

: a soft-bodied legless larva of a two-winged fly (as the housefly)

Medical Definition

maggot

noun

mag·​got ˈmag-ət 

: a soft-bodied legless grub that is the larva of a dipteran fly (as the housefly) and develops usually in decaying organic matter or as a parasite in plants or animals