wasp

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈwäsp 

ˈwȯsp

1

: any of numerous social or solitary winged hymenopterous insects (especially families Sphecidae and Vespidae) that usually have a slender smooth body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk, well-developed wings, biting mouthparts, and in the females and workers an often formidable sting, and that are largely carnivorous and often provision their nests with insects or spiders killed or paralyzed by stinging for their larvae to feed on compare bee

2

: any of various hymenopterous insects (such as a chalcid or ichneumon wasp) other than wasps with larvae that are parasitic on other arthropods

wasplike

ˈwäsp-ˌlīk 

ˈwȯsp-

adjective

Illustration of wasp

• wasp 1

WASP

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈwäsp 

ˈwȯsp

variants or Wasp

often attributive

sometimes disparaging

: an American of Northern European and especially British ancestry and of Protestant background

especially : a member of the dominant and the most privileged class of people in the U.S.

Waspdom

ˈwäsp-dəm 

ˈwȯsp-

noun sometimes disparaging

Waspish

ˈwä-spish 

ˈwȯ-

adjective sometimes disparaging

Waspishness noun sometimes disparaging

Examples of wasp in a Sentence

Noun (2)

Most of the members of the club are wealthy WASPs.

The college had been known as a bastion of WASP privilege.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The wasp larvae will hatch, then devour either all the young bees or all their food. —Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025

Similar, although not identical behavior has been observed among living parasitoid wasp species. —Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2025

The new wasp species was found in Yunnan Province in south-central China near the Naban River, researchers said. —Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2025

Hives can appear from allergic reactions to food, medications, and insect bites such as bee or wasp stings. —Michelle Pugle, Verywell Health, 5 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English waspe, from Old English wæps, wæsp; akin to Old High German wafsa wasp, Latin vespa wasp

Noun (2)

white Anglo-Saxon Protestant

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1948, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing wasp

• fig wasp
• gall wasp
• ichneumon wasp
• mason wasp
• paper wasp
• sea wasp
• trichogramma wasp
• wasp waist

Kids Definition

wasp

1 of 2 noun

ˈwäsp 

ˈwȯsp

: any of numerous winged insects related to the bees and ants that have a slender body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk and that in females and workers are usually capable of giving a very painful sting

WASP

2 of 2 noun

variants or Wasp

: an American of northern European and Protestant background

—sometimes used disparagingly

Medical Definition

wasp

noun

ˈwäsp, ˈwȯsp 

: any of numerous social or solitary winged insects (especially families Sphecidae and Vespidae) of the order Hymenoptera that usually have a slender smooth body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk, well-developed wings, biting mouthparts, and in the females and workers an often formidable sting