yellow jacket

noun \ ˈye-lō-ˌja-kət , ˈye-lə- \

variants: or less commonly yellowjacket

|Updated on: 7 Aug 2018

Definition of yellow jacket

1 : any of various small yellow-marked vespid wasps (especially genus Vespula) that commonly nest in the ground and can sting repeatedly and painfully

2 slang : pentobarbital especially in a yellow capsule

See yellow jacket defined for English-language learners

See yellow jacket defined for kids

Recent Examples of yellow jacket from the Web

Melania Trump changed into a pale yellow jacket before the plane landed in McAllen for a visit to the Upbring New Hope Children’s Center, which houses 55 migrant children.

— darlene superville, latimes.com, "First lady's jacket asks a pointed question," 21 June 2018
The first lady wore a different pale yellow jacket when the plane landed in McAllen, Texas, for a visit to the Upbring New Hope Children's Center, which houses 55 migrant children.

— samuel chamberlain, Fox News, "Melania Trump's 'I don't care' jacket causes stir on border visit," 21 June 2018
Aside from different nesting preferences, the main difference between bees and wasps is that bees feed their larvae pollen, while wasps—a category that includes yellow jackets and hornets—nourish theirs with insects.

— rebecca straus, Good Housekeeping, "6 Ways To Keep Wasps Away From You," 6 June 2016
The reality star was impossible to miss wearing a bright neon yellow jacket, metallic silver biker shorts, your grandpa's high socks, and Yeezy sneakers for the family outing.

— lauren alexis fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "Kim Kardashian Basically Dressed Like A Crossing Guard To Take Her Kids to Disneyland," 23 May 2018
Past survivalists have dealt with horrible weather and flesh-eating bacteria, while one contestant was even stung by a yellow jacket in the most unfortunate of areas.

— steve helling, PEOPLE.com, "Naked and Afraid Survivalists Go Head to Head with A 'Huge' Caiman," 8 Apr. 2018
The summer sun baked the morning moisture off the GingerMan Raceway in South Haven, Mich. Hellcats lined up for roll call in a rainbow of eye-popping color: yellow jacket, octane red, go mango.

— robert duffer, chicagotribune.com, "Taming a Hellcat at track safety school," 17 Aug. 2017
Wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets can put a serious crimp in your outdoor fun.

— jean nick, Good Housekeeping, "How To Wasp-Proof Your Backyard For Outdoor Summer Living," 21 June 2017
The Chicago native, who rocked a yellow jacket, white T-shirt and black jeans, quickly came out of his jacket after about three songs.

— kevinisha walker, NOLA.com, "Common pumps up Jazz Fest crowd -- and serenades female NOPD officer," 28 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'yellow jacket.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of yellow jacket

1796

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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YELLOW JACKET Defined for English Language Learners

yellow jacket

noun

Definition of yellow jacket for English Language Learners

: a small flying insect that has yellow marks on its body and that can sting you

YELLOW JACKET Defined for Kids

yellow jacket

noun

Definition of yellow jacket for Students

: a small wasp with yellow markings that usually nests in colonies in the ground and can sting repeatedly and painfully

Medical Dictionary

yellow jacket

noun

medical Definition of yellow jacket

1 : any of various yellow-marked social wasps (especially genus Vespula of the family Vespidae) that usually nest in the ground, aggressively defend their nests, and can sting repeatedly and painfully

2 slang : pentobarbital especially in a yellow capsule —usually used in plural