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

Using insect repellent when outdoors, especially while camping or hiking, can also reduce the risk of being bitten by infected fleas. —Alice Park, Time, 21 Aug. 2025

Health officials in El Dorado County believe the individual may have been bitten by an infected flea. —Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025

The plague is caused by the Yersinia pestis bacterium and is transmitted to people by rodent fleas, or by handling an infected animal, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said. —Becca Longmire, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025

Plague bacteria are most commonly spread by fleas that have fed on infected squirrels, chipmunks or other wild rodents. —Greg Wehner , Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 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