Meanings
plural hymenopterans
- biologyAny insect of the order Hymenoptera: the bees, wasps and ants etc.
- not comparablebiologyRelating to or denoting hymenopterans.
Synonyms & antonyms
nouninsects having two pairs of membranous wings and an ovipositor specialized for stinging or piercing
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Ancient Greekὑμενόπτερος“membrane-winged”
- Englishhymenopteran
From translingual Hymenoptera + -an, from neuter plural of Ancient Greek ὑμενόπτερος (humenópteros, “membrane-winged”), from ὑμήν (humḗn, “thin skin, membrane”) + πτερόν (pterón, “feather, wing”) + -ος (-os, adjectival suffix).
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish pistiäinen, pistiäis-
- pistiäineninsect of the order Hymenoptera
- pistiäis-relating to or denoting hymenopterans
German Hautflügler
- Hautflüglerinsect of the order Hymenoptera
Polish błonkówka
- błonkówkainsect of the order Hymenoptera
Russian перепо̀нчатокры́лый
- перепо̀нчатокры́лый (perepònčatokrýlyj)relating to or denoting hymenopterans
Cite this entry
hymenopteran. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hymenopteran
“hymenopteran.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hymenopteran. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hymenopteran,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hymenopteran.
Source: hymenopteran on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.