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Definition of midge
midge
/ˈmɪdʒ/
midge
Plural:midges
midge Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
7
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
midge Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
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WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A small, delicate two-winged fly (order Diptera), frequently found in dense swarms near water or marshy areas, with many species notorious for delivering irritating bites.
Example
"We had to retreat into the tent as the swarm of midges near the Scottish loch became entirely unbearable."
2
An artificial fly used in fly fishing that is specifically designed and tied to imitate a small flying insect.
Example
"The angler carefully cast a tiny midge onto the surface of the stream in hopes of catching a rising trout."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for midge• Rhymes for midge
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Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'mycg', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'mug' and German 'Mücke' (meaning 'mosquito' or 'midge'), tracing back to an Indo-European root meaning 'fly'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Midge. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/midge