maggot

noun

mag·​got ˈma-gət How to pronounce maggot (audio)
1
: a soft-bodied legless grub that is the larva of a dipterous insect (such as the housefly)
2
: a fantastic or eccentric idea : whim
maggoty adjective

Examples of maggot in a Sentence

The rotten meat was infested with maggots. the last maggot he got in his head resulted in a disastrous extramarital affair
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The larvae or maggots then feed on the animal’s flesh and cause severe wounds and death, if untreated. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2025 Pets, especially dogs, are vulnerable to the screwworm Wildlife, including deer, are vulnerable to the maggots as are pets – and especially dogs. Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 10 July 2025 In the bathroom, officers found a bathtub full of grey, foggy water and a toilet with mold and maggots moving along its base. Thomas B. Langhorne, IndyStar, 9 July 2025 The flesh-eating maggots go for most warm-blooded animals, including horses and cows. Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for maggot

Word History

Etymology

Middle English magot, probably alteration of mathek, maddok; akin to Middle Low German mēdeke maggot, Old Norse mathkr, Old English matha

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of maggot was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Maggot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maggot. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

maggot

noun
mag·​got ˈmag-ət How to pronounce maggot (audio)
: a soft-bodied legless larva of a two-winged fly (as the housefly)

Medical Definition

maggot

noun
mag·​got ˈmag-ət How to pronounce maggot (audio)
: a soft-bodied legless grub that is the larva of a dipteran fly (as the housefly) and develops usually in decaying organic matter or as a parasite in plants or animals

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