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Definition of mayfly

mayfly

/ˈmeɪ.flaɪ/
may · fly
Plural:mayflies
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mayfly Lexical Profile

mayfly Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A delicate aquatic insect of the order Ephemeroptera, characterized by transparent membranous wings and long tail appendages, noted for living only a very short time in its adult stage.

Example

"Thousands of mayflies hatched from the river surface at dusk, dancing in the air before completing their brief life cycle."

2

An artificial fishing lure designed to imitate the natural aquatic insect, commonly used by anglers in fly fishing.

Example

"The angler tied a dry mayfly to the end of the leader, hoping to entice a rising trout from the deep pool."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for mayfly

• Rhymes for mayfly

• Nearby Words

mayapple
maybug
mayflower
mayfly
mayhaw
mayonnaise
maypop

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from 'May', referring to the month when these insects frequently emerge in large numbers, combined with 'fly'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mayfly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mayfly
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