mantis

noun

man·​tis ˈman-təs 

plural mantises also mantes ˈman-ˌtēz 

: any of an order or suborder (Mantodea and especially family Mantidae) of large usually green insects that feed on other insects and clasp their prey in forelimbs held up as if in prayer

Illustration of mantis

Examples of mantis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For us, our evening plans were to make the short walk to see the fire-breathing mantis at Downtown Container Park, then head over to Atomic Liquors, which was the first free-standing bar in Las Vegas, for some people-watching, a local brew and the phenomenal pan pizza. —Ryan Slattery, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2024

There's a blue morpho butterfly, a Hercules beetle, and a Chinese mantis. —Patrice J. Williams, Parents, 12 July 2024

Cannibalistic female mantises produce more eggs than mantises who don’t eat their mates, a 2016 research paper concluded. —Ben Guarino, Popular Science, 13 June 2024

And there was a vigorous cat chase at Yankee Stadium in 2021 on the same day that a mantis sat on a player’s head for two innings. —Victor Mather, New York Times, 16 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek, literally, diviner, prophet; akin to Greek mainesthai to be mad — more at mania

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing mantis

• mantis shrimp
• praying mantis

Kids Definition

mantis

noun

man·​tis ˈmant-əs 

plural mantises also mantes ˈman-ˌtēz 

: any of various large usually green insects related to the grasshoppers and cockroaches that feed upon other insects and hold their prey in the stout spiny first pair of legs