Definition

A small, wingless insect that lives in beds and feeds on the blood of people while they sleep.

Example

I found a bedbug crawling on my mattress last night.

Conversation

I found a bedbug in my apartment last night.

Oh no! That's really gross!

Yeah, I had to call pest control right away.

Good idea! They can help get rid of those bedbugs for good.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Bedbug → The word is formed from "bed" (from Old English *bedda*, meaning a place for sleeping) and "bug" (from Middle English *bugge*, meaning a frightening creature or insect). A bedbug is an insect that is commonly found in beds, where it feeds on human blood during sleep.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'bed' as the place where you sleep and a 'bug' as a small, frightening creature. This helps you remember that a bedbug is an insect that lives in your bed.

Visually Confused Words