sand fly

noun

variants or sandfly

ˈsan(d)-ˌflī 

plural sand flies or sandflies

: any of various small biting dipteran flies (especially genus Phlebotomus of the family Psychodidae) see also sandfly fever

Examples of sand fly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The gardeners rake these in twice a day to keep the sand flies away—the insects lay their eggs in moist, undisturbed sand, so regularly turning it disrupts their breeding ground. — Ariel Leve, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

Also known as biting midges or sand flies, these tiny pests belong to the Ceratopogonidae family. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 June 2026

According to its Chamber of Commerce website, its name is derived from the Lenape Native American word for sand flies, a gnat-like insect that was abundant in the area. — Doris Alvarez Cea, Florida Times-Union, 2 Feb. 2026

Insects like mosquitoes, fleas, fire ants, sand flies, and biting midges can transmit bacterial, viral, or parasitic diseases. — Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1736, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sand fly

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

Kids Definition

sand fly

noun

: any of various small two-winged flies that bite

Medical Definition

sand fly

noun

variants or sandfly

: any of various small biting dipteran flies (families Psychodidae, Simuliidae, and Ceratopogonidae)

especially : any fly of the genus Phlebotomus see also sandfly fever