yellow jacket

noun

plural yellow jackets

1

or yellowjacket

ˈye-lō-ˌja-kət 

ˈye-lə-

plural yellowjackets : any of various small vespid wasps (genus Vespula and Dolichovespula) typically with abdomens marked with yellow and black that build nests in the ground or less commonly in aerial locations (such as the eaves of buildings), that usually reach a length of up to .5 inches (1.3 centimeters), and that can sting repeatedly and painfully

2

slang : pentobarbital especially in a yellow capsule

—usually used in plural

Examples of yellow jacket in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mills didn't notice anything odd – just a yellow jacket on the passenger seat, and some bags in the car including a black briefcase and a blue bag with a Massachusetts logo. —Emma Steele, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2025

In the video from across the street, parked buses obscure much of the field of view, but a vehicle can be seen slowly turning into Valhalla’s gate as a police officer in a reflective yellow jacket runs to catch up with the car. —Josh Wood, The Courier-Journal, 23 May 2024

Mills: there was a yellow jacket, a black briefcase, and a blue bag with a Massachusetts logo. —Emma Steele, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2025

While thousands of people have been displaced and lost their homes due to the wildfires that continue to rage in southern California, many are still fixated on ABC News’ anchor David Muir’s yellow jacket. —Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for yellow jacket

• bracket
• packet
• racket
• racquet
• straitjacket

Kids Definition

yellow jacket

noun

: any of various small social wasps with yellow markings that commonly nest in the ground and can sting repeatedly and painfully

Medical Definition

yellow jacket

noun

1

or yellowjacket

ˈyel-ō-ˌjak-ət 

: any of various small, social wasps (genus Vespula and Dolichovespula of the family Vespidae) typically with abdomens marked with yellow and black that build nests in the ground or less commonly in aerial locations (as the eaves of buildings), that aggressively defend their nests, and that can sting repeatedly and painfully

2

slang : pentobarbital especially in a yellow capsule

—usually used in plural