vampire bat

noun

: any of several bats (Desmodus rotundus, Diaemus youngi, and Diphylla ecaudata of the subfamily Desmodontinae of the family Phyllostomidae) of Mexico and Central and South America that feed on the blood of birds and mammals and especially domestic animals and that are sometimes vectors of disease and especially of rabies

also : any of several other bats (as of the families Megadermatidae and Phyllostomidae) that do not feed on blood but are sometimes reputed to do so

Illustration of vampire bat

Examples of vampire bat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To survive, vampire bats practice reciprocal altruism, sharing regurgitated blood with starving roost-mates—a rare and complex social behavior in the animal kingdom. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025

It’s observed in various species—most notably, in vampire bats and mosquitoes. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025

In his observation, Wilkinson banded 184 vampire bats in Costa Rica. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 13 Dec. 2024

If necessary, vampire bats can gorge and consume four times their body weight in liquid. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for vampire bat

• aristocrat
• magnificat
• acrobat
• autocrat
• automat
• bundesrat
• bureaucrat
• butterfat
• caveat
• chemostat
• copycat
• cryostat

Kids Definition

vampire bat

noun

: any of three bats of Mexico and Central and South America that feed on blood especially of domestic animals and sometimes carry and pass on diseases (as rabies)

also : any of several other bats that do not feed on blood but are sometimes said to do so

Medical Definition

vampire bat

noun

: any of several Central and South American bats (Desmodus rotundus, Diaemus youngi, and Diphylla ecaudata) that feed on the blood of birds and mammals and especially domestic animals and that are sometimes vectors of disease and especially of rabies

also : any of several other bats that do not feed on blood but are sometimes reputed to do so