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

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

How to identify a black widow According to a guide from Purdue University's entomology department, a female black widow is black and about the size of a penny with its legs extended. —Jenny Porter Tilley, The Indianapolis Star, 17 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