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housefly
noun
house·fly
ˈhau̇s-ˌflī
: a cosmopolitan dipteran fly (Musca domestica) that is often about human habitations and may act as a mechanical vector of diseases (such as typhoid fever)
also
: any of various flies of similar appearance or habitat
Examples of housefly in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Among the topics discussed: the fate of the planet, a book about a housefly in outer space and the disposition of a certain check for $50 million.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 July 2024
Maggots are the larvae of various fly species, such as fruit flies, houseflies, cheese flies and blowflies.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2024
Under these conditions, houseflies cannot take flight.
—Rachel Lance, WIRED, 16 Apr. 2024
The Oriental fruit fly, which is slightly larger than a housefly at around 8 millimeters long, is generally bright yellow.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for housefly
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'housefly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of housefly was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near housefly
Cite this Entry
“Housefly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/housefly. Accessed 19 Sep. 2024.
Kids Definition
housefly
noun
house·fly
-ˌflī
: a two-winged fly that is common about human living places and may spread disease (as typhoid fever)
Medical Definition
housefly
noun
house·fly
-ˌflī
plural houseflies
: a cosmopolitan dipteran fly of the genus Musca (M. domestica) that is often found about human habitations and may act as a mechanical vector of diseases (as typhoid fever)
also
: any of various flies of similar appearance or habitat
More from Merriam-Webster on housefly
Nglish: Translation of housefly for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about housefly
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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