Meanings
nountrap-jaw ant (plural trap-jaw ants)
plural trap-jaw ants · alternative trapjaw ant · alternative trap jaw ant
- informalbiologyAny of a group of carnivorous ants, of the genus Odontomachus, that have mandibles that can snap shut on prey
Synonyms: odontomach
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAny of a group of carnivorous ants, of the genus Odontomachus, that have mandibles that can snap shut on prey
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Origin
From trap + jaw + ant, because the mandibles (jaws) snap shut forcefully like a trap.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
trap-jaw ant. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/trap-jaw%20ant
MLA
“trap-jaw ant.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/trap-jaw%20ant. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “trap-jaw ant,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/trap-jaw%20ant.
Source: trap-jaw ant on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.