Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
white-faced hornet

white-faced hornet

8.7
A large black and white wasp with a pale face that can sting people and becomes aggressive when threatened
  • noun
  • /ˈwaɪt feɪst ˈhɔrnɪt/
  • US
translation icon : avispa de cara blanca
  • Gardeners should take care when approaching a white-faced hornet nest during the summer months.

Examples

  • The painful sting of a white-faced hornet can cause severe reactions in some people.

  • The white-faced hornet is known for its aggressive nature.

  • A white-faced hornet nest was discovered in the old oak tree behind the house.

  • Have you ever seen a white-faced hornet up close?

  • A white-faced hornet nest was discovered in the old oak tree behind the house.

  • Gardeners should take care when approaching a white-faced hornet nest during the summer months.

  • The painful sting of a white-faced hornet can cause severe reactions in some people.

Synonyms

Vespula maculata
vswhite-faced hornet
  • Specialized
9.9

A large black and white wasp often called the bald-faced hornet that makes big paper nests

is the everyday common name rather than the scientific label
bald-faced hornet
vswhite-faced hornet
  • US
8.2

A large black and white hornet in North America that builds paper nests in trees and defends them

focuses on a pale mark on the head and aggressive response when threatened

Surface Forms

white-faced hornet singular
white-faced hornets plural

Morphology

white-faced + hornet

This is a straightforward descriptive compound: 'white-faced' (having a white or pale face) combined with 'hornet' (a large wasp) yields a hornet with a pale/white face. The meaning is directly compositional and follows common adjective+noun patterns found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

The name white-faced hornet comes from the insect's pale face that stands out on its dark body, so people called it white-faced. That's why the name refers to 'a large black-and-white hornet from North America that can be aggressive and sting'.