tsetse fly

noun

tset·​se fly ˈ(t)set-sē- How to pronounce tsetse fly (audio)
ˈtet-,
ˈ(t)sēt-,
ˈtēt- How to pronounce tsetse fly (audio)
: any of several dipteran flies (genus Glossina) that occur in Africa south of the Sahara and include vectors of human and animal trypanosomes

called also tsetse

compare sleeping sickness

Examples of tsetse fly 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.
From the 1950s through the 1970s, tsetse fly outbreaks greatly reduced sable numbers throughout their range. — Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 11 July 2024 The pestilent tsetse fly is a scourge in rural Africa. — Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 25 Apr. 2014

Word History

Etymology

Afrikaans, from Tswana tsètsè fly

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tsetse fly was in 1865

Rhymes for tsetse fly

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Browse Nearby Words

tsetse disease
tsetse fly
TSgt
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Cite this Entry

“Tsetse fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tsetse%20fly. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

tsetse fly

noun
tset·​se fly ˈ(t)set-sē- How to pronounce tsetse fly (audio) ˈtet- How to pronounce tsetse fly (audio)
ˈ(t)sēt-,
ˈtēt-
: any of a genus of two-winged flies found mostly in Africa south of the Sahara Desert and including some forms that pass on disease-causing trypanosomes

called also tsetse

Medical Definition

tsetse fly

noun
: any of several dipteran flies of the genus Glossina that occur in sub-Saharan Africa and include vectors of human and animal trypanosomes (as those causing sleeping sickness and nagana)

called also tsetse

More from Merriam-Webster on tsetse fly

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tsetse fly

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