yellow jacket
noun
plural yellow jackets
1
or yellowjacket
ˈye-lō-ˌja-kət 
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
ˈye-lə-
2
slang
: pentobarbital especially in a yellow capsule
—usually used in plural
Examples of yellow jacket in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a scene out of biblical end-times, yellow jackets swarmed in the days after the storm — displaced after falling trees and floodwaters destroyed their nests.
—
Kim Dinan, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024
The surge of stings from yellow jackets, bees and other insects has prompted the state health department to buy Benadryl and epinephrine injections as aid groups also work to acquire the medications and get them to those in the affected areas.
—Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 6 Oct. 2024
The Summary Flooding in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene has led to swarms of yellow jackets.
—Erika Edwards, NBC News, 3 Oct. 2024
The Buzz on Wasps There are different species of wasps, including common wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets.
—Barbara Bellesi Zito, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for yellow jacket 
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Kim Dinan, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024
The surge of stings from yellow jackets, bees and other insects has prompted the state health department to buy Benadryl and epinephrine injections as aid groups also work to acquire the medications and get them to those in the affected areas.
—Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 6 Oct. 2024
The Summary Flooding in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene has led to swarms of yellow jackets.
—Erika Edwards, NBC News, 3 Oct. 2024
The Buzz on Wasps There are different species of wasps, including common wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets.
—Barbara Bellesi Zito, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for yellow jacket
Articles Related to yellow jacket
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 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
yellow jacket
noun1
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
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