paper wasp

noun

: a vespid wasp (especially genus Polistes) that builds a nest of papery material

Examples of paper wasp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Their nests look similar to other paper wasp nests but may be umbrella-shaped. — Patricia S York, Southern Living, 21 June 2026 The sounds are most prominent near an underground yellow jacket nest, paper wasp nest, or the large, enclosed bald-fast hornet's paper nest. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 5 Mar. 2026 While some, like honey bees and lacewings, are beneficial pollinators, others — such as mosquitoes and paper wasps — can be nuisances or even pose health risks. — Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 1 Mar. 2025 While some wasps, like paper wasps, create papery nests under roof peaks and in the high branches of trees, yellow jackets usually build their nests in hollow logs and stumps, or in underground burrows, often abandoned rodent dens. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for paper wasp

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of paper wasp was in 1853

Browse Nearby Words

paper-train
paper wasp
paperweight
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Paper wasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paper%20wasp. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

paper wasp

noun
: a wasp that builds a nest out of papery material

More from Merriam-Webster on paper wasp

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about paper wasp

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