scarab

noun

scar·​ab ˈsker-əb How to pronounce scarab (audio)
ˈska-rəb
Synonyms of scarabnext
1
: any of a family (Scarabaeidae) of stout-bodied beetles (such as a dung beetle) with lamellate or fan-shaped antennae
2
: a stone or faience beetle used in ancient Egypt as a talisman, ornament, and a symbol of resurrection

Examples of scarab 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.
One of her favorite specimens was the rain beetle, a fuzzy scarab-like insect that can't feed as an adult, relying solely on fat stores from its larval stages. — Christine Mai-Duc, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026 The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, is a scarab beetle about 3/8-inch long. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 30 May 2026 This fascination extended to bold, symbolic jewelry such as scarabs. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Mar. 2026 The measure would also classify the Carolina mantis as the state predator insect and the rainbow scarab, a dung beetle, as the soil conservation insect. — Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scarab

Word History

Etymology

Middle French scarabee, from Latin scarabaeus

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of scarab was in 1579

Rhymes for scarab

See All Rhymes for scarab

Browse Nearby Words

scar
scarab
scarabaeid
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Cite this Entry

“Scarab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scarab. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

scarab

noun
scar·​ab ˈskar-əb How to pronounce scarab (audio)
1
: any of a family of large stout beetles (as a dung beetle)
2
: an ornament or a gem made to represent a scarab
especially : one used in ancient Egypt as a symbol of eternal life

More from Merriam-Webster on scarab

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for scarab

Nglish: Translation of scarab for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about scarab

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