black widow

noun

: a venomous New World spider (Latrodectus mactans of the family Theridiidae) the female of which is black with an hourglass-shaped red mark on the underside of the abdomen

broadly : any of various related venomous spiders that have a large globular, usually glossy, dark abdomen often marked with red and long and wiry legs

Illustration of black widow

Examples of black widow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But there are only two venomous spiders native to Texas — the brown recluse and the black widow, and their bites are rarely fatal. —Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 6 June 2024

However, black widows are natural pest controllers, helping to keep pest populations in check by feeding on insects like mosquitoes and flies. —Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 14 Oct. 2024

The venom in a black widow spider is extremely toxic. —Laura Schober, Health, 19 Sep. 2024

Treatments for a black widow bite include:41 Pain-relieving medicines: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) target pain points caused by a black widow bite. —Laura Schober, Health, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

black widow

noun

: a poisonous New World spider the female of which is black with an hourglass-shaped red mark on the underside of the abdomen

Medical Definition

black widow

noun

black wid·​ow -ˈwid-ˌō 

: a venomous New World spider of the genus Latrodectus (L. mactans) the female of which is black with an hourglass-shaped red mark on the underside of the abdomen

broadly : any other spider of the genus Latrodectus