Definition

A small, winged insect that is usually white and can harm plants by sucking their sap.

Example

The gardener noticed a whitefly infestation on the tomato plants.

Conversation

I noticed some plants in my garden are looking unhealthy.

That might be a sign of a whitefly infestation.

Really? What should I do about it?

You can use insecticidal soap to get rid of the whitefly problem.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Whitefly → The word is formed from "white" (from Old English "hwita", meaning bright or light in color) and "fly" (from Old English "flēoge", meaning a flying insect). The term "whitefly" refers to a small, white, flying insect that is often found on plants.

Memory Tip

Think of the color 'white' to remember that 'whitefly' describes a small flying insect that is bright in color.

Visually Confused Words