sand flea

noun

1
: a flea (such as a chigoe) found in sandy places
The so-called sand flea that people encounter on vacation beaches is nothing more than a common flea that is breeding outdoors in the soil.Jane E. Brody
2
: any of various amphipod crustaceans (family Talitridae) found on ocean beaches that feed on decaying organic matter, typically burrow into the sand during the day, and are capable of leaping like fleas : beach flea
These little shorebirds are generally in small groups, chasing the receding breakers on twinkling feet, probing for sand fleas and other crustaceans …Dennis Puleston

Examples of sand flea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Most of the fish are being caught on live finger mullet, shrimp, clams, sand fleas and shiny lures. Alan Sherman, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Locally they’re known as sand fleas, a name that doesn’t exactly make the mouth water. Lawrence Specker | Lspecker@al.com, al, 13 Aug. 2023 Along with biting insects like chiggers, black flies, sand fleas, gnats, midges, and mosquitoes, ticks can latch onto an unsuspecting hiker and infect them with an array of lethal diseases, such as Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF). Nancy Jo Adams, Popular Mechanics, 22 Apr. 2023 Wayne remembers taking sand flea spray to the Akins’ house, and Welling recalls picking up a portable cornhole set at her place. Tom Roland, Billboard, 27 Sep. 2022 Whiting continue to bite in the runouts along the beach on FishBites sand flea flavor fished on light gear; www.ateamfishing.com. Frank Sargeant, al, 20 Aug. 2021 Lots of pompano are still just outside the beach bar around the runouts—fish peeled shrimp with a chunk of pink FishBites scent in sand flea flavor on a double hook pompano rig to get them. Frank Sargeant, al, 14 May 2021 Catch the whiting and pompano on pink FishBites in the sand flea flavor, the other species on a 3 inch chrome spoon cranked fast outside the bar. Frank Sargeant, al, 21 May 2021 Pompano and whiting are still in the surf, taking peeled shrimp or live sand fleas as well as Fish Bites prepared bait. Frank Sargeant, al, 10 Apr. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sand flea.' 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

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sand flea was in 1796

Dictionary Entries Near sand flea

Cite this Entry

“Sand flea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sand%20flea. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sand flea

noun
1
: a flea found in sandy places
2
: any of numerous tiny leaping crustaceans common on ocean beaches

Medical Definition

sand flea

noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sand flea

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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