hornet

IPA/ˈhɔːnɪt/
KK[hˈɔrnɪt]IPA/ˈhɔːrnɪt/

hornet — noun

  • hornetsingular
  • hornetsplural

1. A large flying insect, related to the wasp, that can deliver a very painful stin

1.nounB1
Definition

A large flying insect, related to the wasp, that can deliver a very painful sting and can become aggressive when its nest is disturbed.

Example

Mei-Lin screamed when a hornet flew into her bedroom through the open window.

hornet + fly into [location] — entrance scenario

Kwame accidentally stepped on a hornet's nest, and the angry swarm chased him across the garden.

collocation: hornet's nest / angry swarm

Common collocations
  • hornet's nest
  • hornet swarm
  • hornet sting
  • disturb a hornet nest
  • aggressive hornet
Synonyms
  • wasp

    A broader category; all hornets are wasps, but most wasps are smaller and less aggressive than hornets.

  • yellow jacket

    A smaller type of wasp often mistaken for a hornet in the US; yellow jackets build nests in the ground, while true hornets build above-ground paper nests.

  • giant hornet

    Refers specifically to the largest hornet species, such as the northern giant hornet, whose sting is especially dangerous.

Grammar Patterns

hornet + verb (sting, fly, land)

Common Mistakes

A hornet bit my arm.
A hornet stung my arm.
insects with stingers sting; they do not bite with their mouth.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Hornets are a specific subgroup of wasps, larger and typically more aggressive than common wasps. Wasps (the broader category) have smooth bodies, narrow waists, and can sting repeatedly; hornets are simply the largest members of that group. Yellow jackets, often confused with hornets in North America, are smaller wasps that build nests underground rather than in trees. Bees differ from both hornets and wasps in several important ways: bees are hairy, feed primarily on pollen and nectar, and their stinger gets stuck in the skin, killing the bee after one sting. Hornets and wasps, by contrast, have smooth stingers that let them sting multiple times. If you see a large paper nest hanging from a tree branch, it is likely a hornet nest; if the nest is in the ground, it probably belongs to yellow jackets or common wasps.

wasp ↗yellow jacketbee ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • hornet's nest

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'hornet' comes from Old English 'hyrnetu', which goes back to a Proto-Germanic root *hurnut- (also the source of German 'Hornisse'). The name may describe the insect's horn-like antennae or the sharp, pointed shape of its stinger. The spelling settled into modern 'hornet' during the Middle English period.