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Definition of ladybird

ladybird

/ˈleɪdiˌbɜːrd/
la · dy · bird
Plural:ladybirds
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ladybird Lexical Profile

ladybird Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

British A small, round, flying beetle of the family Coccinellidae, found worldwide in gardens and meadows, typically having a brightly colored red, orange, or yellow domed back marked with black spots and feeding on aphids.

Example

"The children watched a bright red ladybird crawl slowly across the rose leaf in the garden."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for ladybird

Word Nuance & Usage

"Ladybird" is the standard term in British, Irish, and Australian English, whereas "ladybug" is preferred in North American English.

• Nearby Words

lady's mantle
lady's slipper
lady's slippers
ladybird
ladyboy
ladybug
ladyfinger

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the late 17th century, the word combines "lady" (referring to the Virgin Mary, "Our Lady," who was often depicted wearing a red cloak in medieval art) and "bird" (used in a broadened sense for a small winged creature).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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