flea

noun

ˈflē 

: any of an order (Siphonaptera) of small wingless bloodsucking insects that have a hard laterally compressed body and legs adapted to leaping and that feed on warm-blooded animals

Illustration of flea

Phrases

flea in one's ear

: rebuke

sent him away with a flea in his ear

Examples of flea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An outside cat is at a higher risk for exposure to parasites such as fleas, ticks, heartworms, and gastrointestinal worms. —Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025

The stray dog had ticks, fleas, worms and open wounds. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025

The floor and foundation were falling apart, inviting hordes of mice and fleas. —Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2025

Similarly, ancient Egyptian medical texts give advice on how to cope with lice and fleas, which indicates people at the time found both to be a nuisance. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fle, from Old English flēa; akin to Old High German flōh flea

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing flea

• beach flea
• fit as a flea
• flea beetle
• flea-bitten
• flea collar
• flea-flicker
• flea market
• jigger flea
• sand flea
• water flea

Rhymes for flea

• be
• bee
• bree
• cree
• fee
• flee
• free
• gee
• ghee
• glee
• he
• ki

Kids Definition

flea

noun

ˈflē 

: any of an order of small wingless bloodsucking insects with a hard body and legs used for leaping

Medical Definition

flea

noun

ˈflē 

: any of the order Siphonaptera comprising wingless bloodsucking insects that have a hard laterally compressed body and legs adapted to leaping and that feed on warm-blooded animals see cat flea, chigoe sense 1, dog flea, rat flea, sand flea, sticktight flea