yellow jacket

noun

plural yellow jackets

1

or yellowjacket

ˈye-lō-ˌja-kət   

ˈye-lə-

plural yellowjackets : any of various small vespid wasps (genus Vespula and Dolichovespula) typically with abdomens marked with yellow and black that build nests in the ground or less commonly in aerial locations (such as the eaves of buildings), that usually reach a length of up to .5 inches (1.3 centimeters), and that can sting repeatedly and painfully

2

slang : pentobarbital especially in a yellow capsule

—usually used in plural

Examples of yellow jacket in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the clip, employees dressed in bright orange and yellow jackets can be seen playing in the snow as snowflakes fall from the sky onto the already thick layer on the ground. —Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026

Make sure garbage cans are sealed Also, clean them regularly to remove residues that attract mice and other pests such as ants and yellow jackets. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2025

Rumi’s signature yellow jacket comes with a price tag of nearly $100, listed at $89.95. —Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 30 Oct. 2025

Footage taken by an anonymous bystander shows a person in a bright yellow jacket standing beside a glass display case. —Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for yellow jacket

• bracket
• packet
• racket
• racquet
• straitjacket

Kids Definition

yellow jacket

noun

: any of various small social wasps with yellow markings that commonly nest in the ground and can sting repeatedly and painfully

Medical Definition

yellow jacket

noun

1

or yellowjacket

ˈyel-ō-ˌjak-ət 

: any of various small, social wasps (genus Vespula and Dolichovespula of the family Vespidae) typically with abdomens marked with yellow and black that build nests in the ground or less commonly in aerial locations (as the eaves of buildings), that aggressively defend their nests, and that can sting repeatedly and painfully

2

slang : pentobarbital especially in a yellow capsule

—usually used in plural