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Definition of gnateater

gnateater

/ˈnætˌiːtər/
gnat · eat · er
Plural:gnateaters
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gnateater Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Any of several small, plump, short-tailed passerine birds comprising the family Conopophagidae, native to the dense forest understories of South and Central America, known for perching close to the ground to forage for insects.

Example

"During our birdwatching expedition in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, we were thrilled to spot a black-cheeked gnateater foraging silently in the leaf litter."

• Nearby Words

gnashers
gnat
gnatcatcher
gnateater
gnatwren
gnaw
gnocchi

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'gnat' and 'eater', coined in the 19th century as a literal translation of the scientific family name Conopophagidae (from Greek 'konops' meaning gnat and 'phagos' meaning eater), reflecting the bird's insectivorous diet.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gnateater. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gnateater
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