wasp

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈwäsp 

ˈwȯsp

1

: any of numerous social or solitary winged hymenopterous insects (especially families Sphecidae and Vespidae) that usually have a slender smooth body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk, well-developed wings, biting mouthparts, and in the females and workers an often formidable sting, and that are largely carnivorous and often provision their nests with insects or spiders killed or paralyzed by stinging for their larvae to feed on compare bee

2

: any of various hymenopterous insects (such as a chalcid or ichneumon wasp) other than wasps with larvae that are parasitic on other arthropods

wasplike

ˈwäsp-ˌlīk 

ˈwȯsp-

adjective

Illustration of wasp

• wasp 1

WASP

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈwäsp 

ˈwȯsp

variants or Wasp

often attributive

sometimes disparaging

: an American of Northern European and especially British ancestry and of Protestant background

especially : a member of the dominant and the most privileged class of people in the U.S.

Waspdom

ˈwäsp-dəm 

ˈwȯsp-

noun sometimes disparaging

Waspish

ˈwä-spish 

ˈwȯ-

adjective sometimes disparaging

Waspishness noun sometimes disparaging

Examples of wasp in a Sentence

Noun (2)

Most of the members of the club are wealthy WASPs.

The college had been known as a bastion of WASP privilege.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Bees, butterflies, wasps, flies, and hummingbirds that come to eat pollen or sip nectar usually leave with some pollen clinging to their bodies. —Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025

Parasitic wasps, flies, lacewings, spiders, and birds will feed on them. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2025

The additional wasp nests were also sprayed and the nest and the wasps inside of it tested, according to the SRS, which said the insects were found to contain lower levels of contamination than the nests. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2025

Outside experts have been quick to point out critical information missing from the DOE's nest report, including the absolute level of radioactivity found in the nest, the specific isotopes that were found, and the type of wasps that built the nest. —Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English waspe, from Old English wæps, wæsp; akin to Old High German wafsa wasp, Latin vespa wasp

Noun (2)

white Anglo-Saxon Protestant

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1948, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing wasp

• fig wasp
• gall wasp
• ichneumon wasp
• mason wasp
• paper wasp
• sea wasp
• trichogramma wasp
• wasp waist

Kids Definition

wasp

1 of 2 noun

ˈwäsp 

ˈwȯsp

: any of numerous winged insects related to the bees and ants that have a slender body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk and that in females and workers are usually capable of giving a very painful sting

WASP

2 of 2 noun

variants or Wasp

: an American of northern European and Protestant background

—sometimes used disparagingly

Medical Definition

wasp

noun

ˈwäsp, ˈwȯsp 

: any of numerous social or solitary winged insects (especially families Sphecidae and Vespidae) of the order Hymenoptera that usually have a slender smooth body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk, well-developed wings, biting mouthparts, and in the females and workers an often formidable sting