Definition

A small insect that belongs to the family Cicadellidae, known for jumping and sucking the juices from plants, which can sometimes harm crops.

Example

The farmer noticed a leafhopper on the leaves of his tomato plants, which could damage the crop.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a leafhopper?

No, what's that?

It's a tiny insect that sucks juice from plants and can damage crops.

That sounds interesting, but also kind of harmful!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Leafhopper → The word is formed from "leaf" (from Old English "leáf", meaning the foliage of a plant) and "hopper" (from Middle English "hoppen", meaning to leap or jump). A leafhopper is an insect that jumps or hops among leaves.

Memory Tip

Think of a creature that 'jumps' ('hopper') around on 'leaves' — that's why a leafhopper is an insect that hops on leaves.

Visually Confused Words