1
: an epidemic disease associated with high mortality
specifically
: plague
2
: something resembling a pest in destructiveness
especially
: a plant or animal detrimental to humans or human concerns (such as agriculture or livestock production)
Examples of pest in a Sentence
These insects are pests for farmers.
mice and other household pests
You're being a real pest. Would you leave us alone, please?
Recent Examples on the Web
Common Pests & Plant Diseases Insect pests of camellias include tea scales and aphids, both of which produce a waste product called honeydew that encourages sooty mold to grow on the foliage.
—
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2024
Seventy years later, our arsenal for controlling pests has grown and diversified.
—Salama Udaipurwala, JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2024
But many experts – yes, even pest control businesses – caution homeowners to exercise a little restraint.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
Starting in the late 1800s people discovered that chemicals, such as copper sulfate, could prevent a pest from causing crop damage.
—Steven Savage, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pest 
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Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2024
Seventy years later, our arsenal for controlling pests has grown and diversified.
—Salama Udaipurwala, JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2024
But many experts – yes, even pest control businesses – caution homeowners to exercise a little restraint.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
Starting in the late 1800s people discovered that chemicals, such as copper sulfate, could prevent a pest from causing crop damage.
—Steven Savage, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pest
Dictionary Entries Near pest
Cite this Entry
“Pest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pest. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pest
noun1
: an epidemic disease which causes a large number of deaths
especially
: plague entry 1 sense 2
2
: something resembling a pest in destructiveness
especially
: a plant or animal harmful to human beings or human concerns (as agriculture)
3
: one that pesters or annoys : nuisance
Medical Definition
pest
noun1
: an epidemic disease associated with high mortality
specifically
: plague sense 2
2
: something resembling a pest in destructiveness
especially
: a plant or animal detrimental to humans or human concerns
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