yellow jacket

noun

plural yellow jackets
1
or yellowjacket 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 Joseph Matthews, 77, perished from multiple organ failure after being found covered in fire ants and yellow jacket stings 20 hours after walking away from his North Carolina facility, his second disappearance. Steven Rich, Washington Post, 17 Dec. 2023 Bearing a striking resemblance to Efron, the toy stands at 6.5 inches tall and wears tiny yellow briefs, with a removable blue and yellow jacket. Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 13 Feb. 2024 Moments later, an officer grabs him by the lapel of his yellow jacket and shoves him into a doorway. Jake Offenhartz The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 10 Feb. 2024 In the video, the NYPD asked the migrants to move, but a scuffle ensued as the officers were seen trying to subdue a person in a yellow jacket onto the ground. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 1 Feb. 2024 Most yellow jackets make their nests underground, so they are commonly found near trees, hollow logs, and woodpiles. Women's Health, 1 May 2023 The cicada killer wasp, eastern yellow jacket and baldfaced hornet are some of the imposters of this invasive species. Cole Sikes Communications and Marketing Specialist Alabama Cooperative Extension System, al, 16 Aug. 2023 Donning a yellow jacket with a plain black top and black trousers, the Princess of Wales accessorized the outfit with jewelry gifted to her by Sarah Renton, a Maidenhead Rugby Club coach whose daughter — Isobelle Phipps, 17 — died by suicide earlier this year. Stacy Lambe, Peoplemag, 10 Oct. 2023 Erin Clark/Globe Staff A runner in a yellow jacket high-fived a spectator in Hopkinton. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'yellow jacket.' 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 yellow jacket was in 1796

Dictionary Entries Near yellow jacket

Cite this Entry

“Yellow jacket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yellow%20jacket. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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 : 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

More from Merriam-Webster on yellow jacket

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