stick insect

noun

: any of various usually wingless phasmid insects (especially family Phasmatidae) with a long cylindrical body resembling a stick
broadly : phasmid

Examples of stick insect 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.
As a result, boobies, shearwaters, petrels, and other seabirds have recovered, and island creatures from lizards to stick insects have reclaimed their homes. Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 19 Sep. 2024 Snowshoe hares melt seamlessly into a wintry landscape, octopuses alter their skin color to match surrounding hues, and stick insects become indistinguishable from the twigs around them. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 9 Sep. 2024 Most stick insects drop eggs onto the ground while hanging from a branch; Lord Howe Island stick insects do this too, but for some reason, Eve preferred sand. Darren Incorvaia, New York Times, 28 May 2024 By as early as 1921, the rats wiped out the island’s stick insects. Darren Incorvaia, New York Times, 28 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for stick insect 

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stick insect was in 1826

Dictionary Entries Near stick insect

Cite this Entry

“Stick insect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stick%20insect. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

stick insect

noun
: any of various usually wingless insects that have a long body resembling a stick

called also walking stick

More from Merriam-Webster on stick insect

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!