black-legged tick

noun

ˈblak-ˈlegd- How to pronounce black-legged tick (audio)
-ˈlāgd-;
-ˈle-gəd-,
-ˈlā-
: either of two ixodid ticks:
a
b
: a tick (Ixodes pacificus) of the western U.S. and British Columbia that is the vector of several diseases (such as Lyme disease)

Examples of black-legged tick in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What ticks to look out for One of the primary tick species to be wary of in the U.S. is the black-legged tick, also called the deer tick or the bear tick. Margie Cullen, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025 According to the Mayo Clinic, the black-legged tick is mainly found in the eastern half of the U.S., along with the Midwest. Margie Cullen, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025 The most common way to get Lyme disease is through the bite of the black-legged tick (also called the deer tick) or the western black-legged tick.1 These ticks carry and spread the bacterial strains that cause Lyme disease, specifically Borrelia burgdorferi and, rarely, Borrelia mayonii. Jennifer Welsh Published, Verywell Health, 3 Feb. 2025 Certain species, such as the black-legged tick (also known as the deer tick), are known to transmit Lyme disease, which can affect both dogs and humans. Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for black-legged tick

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of black-legged tick was in 1944

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Cite this Entry

“Black-legged tick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black-legged%20tick. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Medical Definition

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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