apterous

adjective

ap·​ter·​ous ˈap-tə-rəs How to pronounce apterous (audio)
: lacking wings
apterous insects

Word History

Etymology

Greek apteros, from a- + pteron wing — more at feather

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of apterous was in 1775

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Apterous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apterous. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!