Illustration of mosquito
mosquito
noun
mos·qui·to
mə-ˈskē-(ˌ)tō 
plural mosquitoes also mosquitos
: any of a family (Culicidae) of dipteran flies with females that have a set of slender organs in the proboscis adapted to puncture the skin of animals and to suck their blood and that are in some cases vectors of serious diseases
Examples of mosquito in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some of the topics already discussed include flooding in the area, sand movement, public access and the impact of mosquitoes.
—
Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
The virus is carried by mosquitoes and small biting midges, also known as no-see-ums.
—Patrick Jackson, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
But after Emma falls ill following a vacation, she gets diagnosed with a rare and lethal viral disease that is carried through mosquitos — and to make matters worse, their daughter begins to display strange symptoms as well.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
There is also a fear in Cuba that the developments in Venezuela could cause a deterioration of the quality of life because of power issues, including with spoiling food, trash and mosquitoes.
—Phil Helsel, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mosquito
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Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
The virus is carried by mosquitoes and small biting midges, also known as no-see-ums.
—Patrick Jackson, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
But after Emma falls ill following a vacation, she gets diagnosed with a rare and lethal viral disease that is carried through mosquitos — and to make matters worse, their daughter begins to display strange symptoms as well.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
There is also a fear in Cuba that the developments in Venezuela could cause a deterioration of the quality of life because of power issues, including with spoiling food, trash and mosquitoes.
—Phil Helsel, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mosquito
Cite this Entry
“Mosquito.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mosquito. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mosquito
noun
mos·qui·to
mə-ˈskēt-ō
plural mosquitoes also mosquitos
: any of numerous two-winged flies of which the females have a needlelike structure of the mouth region adapted to puncture the skin and suck the blood of animals
Etymology
from Spanish mosquito "mosquito," literally "little fly," from mosca "fly"
Medical Definition
mosquito
noun
mos·qui·to
mə-ˈskēt-(ˌ)ō, -ə(-w)
plural mosquitoes also mosquitos
: any of numerous dipteran flies of the family Culicidae that have a rather narrow abdomen, usually a long slender rigid proboscis, and narrow wings with a fringe of scales on the margin and usually on each side of the wing veins, that have in the male broad feathery antennae and mouthparts not fitted for piercing and in the female slender antennae and a set of needlelike organs in the proboscis with which they puncture the skin of animals to suck the blood, that lay their eggs on the surface of stagnant water, that include many species which pass through several generations in the course of a year and hibernate as adults or winter in the egg state, and that include some species which are the only vectors of certain diseases see aedes, anopheles, culex
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