1
: an epidemic disease associated with high mortality
specifically
: plague
2
: something resembling a pest in destructiveness
especially
: a plant or animal detrimental to humans or human concerns (such as agriculture or livestock production)
Examples of pest in a Sentence
These insects are pests for farmers.
mice and other household pests
You're being a real pest. Would you leave us alone, please?
Recent Examples on the Web
According to Orkin, the pest control company, scorpions come indoors in search of food.
—
Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 6 July 2025
Using a mosquito 'bucket of doom' is much cheaper than getting a pest control service to come fog or spray your yard.
—Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 4 July 2025
Starting in 1958, for instance, the Chinese Communist Party led a movement to eliminate four species that were considered pests: rats, flies, mosquitoes and sparrows.
—Elizabeth Carlen, The Conversation, 3 July 2025
Cicadas attract pests, nearly invisible mites that bite and can cause a rash.
—Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pest
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 6 July 2025
Using a mosquito 'bucket of doom' is much cheaper than getting a pest control service to come fog or spray your yard.
—Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 4 July 2025
Starting in 1958, for instance, the Chinese Communist Party led a movement to eliminate four species that were considered pests: rats, flies, mosquitoes and sparrows.
—Elizabeth Carlen, The Conversation, 3 July 2025
Cicadas attract pests, nearly invisible mites that bite and can cause a rash.
—Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pest
Cite this Entry
“Pest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pest. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pest
noun1
: an epidemic disease which causes a large number of deaths
especially
: plague entry 1 sense 2
2
: something resembling a pest in destructiveness
especially
: a plant or animal harmful to human beings or human concerns (as agriculture)
3
: one that pesters or annoys : nuisance
Medical Definition
pest
noun1
: an epidemic disease associated with high mortality
specifically
: plague sense 2
2
: something resembling a pest in destructiveness
especially
: a plant or animal detrimental to humans or human concerns
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share