vermin

noun

ver·​min ˈvər-mən How to pronounce vermin (audio)
plural vermin
1
a
: small common harmful or objectionable animals (such as lice or fleas) that are difficult to control
b
: birds and mammals that prey on game
c
: animals that at a particular time and place compete (as for food) with humans or domestic animals
2
: an offensive person

Examples of vermin in a Sentence

The room was crawling with roaches and other vermin. the vermin who looted abandoned houses after the hurricane
Recent Examples on the Web This could include, but is not limited to, major vermin contamination. Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 8 Mar. 2024 Biden calling his opponents fascists and Trump calling his opponents vermin is not normal, Haley said. Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2024 The company, founded nearly half a century ago on the idea that kids simply adore animatronic vermin, is still thriving with hundreds of locations around North America. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2024 Click here to read the actual complaint workers filed with Cal-OSHA Nov. 29, 2023 Typically, vermin mitigation occurs after a county health inspection, which takes place at least annually at all businesses that serve food — from convenience stores to full-service restaurants. Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2023 An infestation plagued Paris while influencers and models from around the globe visited the city, sparking international fears of a wider spread of the vermin, as well as many memes. Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 15 Dec. 2023 There isn’t even garbage pickup, leading to the usual problems with sanitation, vermin and illness, compounded by flooding whenever heavy rain occurs. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 8 Dec. 2023 Nazis depicted Jews as vermin to justify mass murder. Roger Cohen, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2023 And of course, there’s no way the museum would be urging the arrival of vermin into its immaculate galleries. Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vermin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, from verm "worm" (going back to Latin vermis) + -in, -ine, suffix with diminutive or pejorative value, borrowed from Italian -ino, diminutive suffix, going back to Latin -īnus, suffix of appurtenance — more at worm entry 1, -ine entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of vermin was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near vermin

Cite this Entry

“Vermin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vermin. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vermin

noun
ver·​min ˈvər-mən How to pronounce vermin (audio)
plural vermin
: small common harmful or objectionable animals (as fleas or mice) that are difficult to get rid of
Etymology

Middle English vermin "small animal pests," from early French vermin (same meaning), derived from Latin vermis "worm" — related to vermicelli

Word Origin
The word vermin is used for any small harmful or annoying insect or animal that is difficult to get rid of or control. Fleas, lice, mice, rats, and even rabbits when they destroy gardens have been called vermin. However, the word vermin comes from a Latin word for a creature that is not usually thought of as troublesome. The word is vermis, meaning "worm." The word vermicelli, which English borrowed from Italian, can also be traced back to the Latin vermis. The Italians used this word for "thin spaghetti" because the strands look like "little worms," which is what vermicelli means literally.

Medical Definition

vermin

noun
ver·​min ˈvər-mən How to pronounce vermin (audio)
plural vermin
: small common harmful or objectionable animals (as lice or fleas) that are difficult to control

More from Merriam-Webster on vermin

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