hairstreak

noun

hair·​streak ˈher-ˌstrēk How to pronounce hairstreak (audio)
: any of a subfamily (Theclinae of the family Lycaenidae) of small butterflies usually having striped markings on the underside of the wings and thin filamentous projections from the hind wings

Examples of hairstreak in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Overall, American mistletoe is quite a beneficial member of this area’s natural ecosystem, providing early-season flowers for bees, serving as a host plant for the state-rare great purple hairstreak butterfly, and providing food and shelter for an array of bird and mammal species. — Miri Talabac, baltimoresun.com, 20 Jan. 2022 So rather than tract housing, the prairies are home to rare and unusual plants and insects, such as the Acadian hairstreak, bunchgrass skipper and dusky wing butterflies. — Paul Eisenberg, chicagotribune.com, 27 Sep. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hairstreak was in 1815

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“Hairstreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hairstreak. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

hairstreak

noun
hair·​streak -ˌstrēk How to pronounce hairstreak (audio)
: any of various small butterflies with hairlike tails sticking out from the hind wings

More from Merriam-Webster on hairstreak

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hairstreak

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