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Definition of termite

termite

/ˈtɝː.maɪt/
ter · mite
Plural:termites
•
Adjective:termitic
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termite Lexical Profile

termite Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small, pale, soft-bodied insect of the epifamily Termitoidae that lives in large, highly organized social colonies. They primarily feed on wood, dead plant material, and cellulose, playing a crucial ecological role but often causing significant structural damage to buildings and timber.

Example

"The homeowners had to hire an exterminator after discovering a colony of termites had severely damaged the wooden foundation of their house."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for termite

Word Nuance & Usage

Though frequently referred to colloquially as 'white ants,' termites are biologically distinct from ants and belong to a different insect order, being more closely related to cockroaches.

• Rhymes for termite

• Nearby Words

terminator
terminology
terminus
termite
termly
terms
termtime

Word Origin & Etymology

Late 18th century: from Modern Latin 'Termes' (stem 'Termit-'), derived from Late Latin 'tarmes' or 'termes', meaning 'woodworm'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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