pest

noun

ˈpest 

1

: an epidemic disease associated with high mortality

specifically : plague

2

: something resembling a pest in destructiveness

especially : a plant or animal detrimental to humans or human concerns (such as agriculture or livestock production)

3

: one that pesters or annoys : nuisance

pesty

ˈpe-stē 

adjective

Synonyms of pest

• plague

Examples of pest in a Sentence

These insects are pests for farmers.

mice and other household pests

You're being a real pest. Would you leave us alone, please?

Recent Examples on the Web

Pillows were kept — and since removed — from room 3506 where the pests were most-recently found. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Bats are invaluable in agriculture, gorging on pests that target crops — corn earworms, brown stink bugs, cucumber beetles and more. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Predictive models of apple maggot emergence are available in many places to help farmers efficiently target the pests. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026

Attics are poor storage spaces due to temperature fluctuations, poor ventilation, and pests. — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French peste, from Latin pestis

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pest

• integrated pest management

Rhymes for pest

• blessed
• blest
• breast
• chest
• crest
• dressed
• fest
• gest
• geste
• guessed
• jest
• lest

Kids Definition

pest

noun

ˈpest 

1

: an epidemic disease which causes a large number of deaths

especially : plague entry 1 sense 2

2

: something resembling a pest in destructiveness

especially : a plant or animal harmful to human beings or human concerns (as agriculture)

3

: one that pesters or annoys : nuisance

pesty

ˈpes-tē 

adjective

Medical Definition

pest

noun

ˈpest 

1

: an epidemic disease associated with high mortality

specifically : plague sense 2

2

: something resembling a pest in destructiveness

especially : a plant or animal detrimental to humans or human concerns

pesty

ˈpes-tē 

adjective