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

Researchers from the University of Toronto captured several vampire bats and taught them to run on a treadmill. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024

The common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, is the most abundant. —Sebastian Stockmaier, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024

Then, of course, there are vampire bats, which drink blood (though rarely that of humans). —Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2024

Jared Leto plays the titular doctor who splices vampire bat genes with his own to reverse his blood disorder. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined above

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