army ant: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2neutral to technical (in biological contexts)
Quick answer
What does “army ant” mean?
A type of nomadic ant that lives in large colonies and moves in massive, aggressive groups to hunt prey.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of nomadic ant that lives in large colonies and moves in massive, aggressive groups to hunt prey.
A metaphor for any large, organized, and relentless group moving with a single purpose, often with destructive or overwhelming force.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Both use the term 'army ant'. The scientific family names (e.g., Dorylinae, Ecitoninae) are used equally in technical contexts.
Connotations
Identical connotations of relentless, organized, swarming force.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to greater media exposure in nature documentaries and metaphorical use in journalism/commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “army ant” in a Sentence
The [noun] was overrun by [army ants].[Army ants] descended upon the [noun].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “army ant” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The forest floor was being army-anted.
American English
- The pests army-anted their way through the kitchen.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor for a highly coordinated sales force or competitive strategy: 'Their marketing team moved through the market like army ants.'
Academic
Used in biology, entomology, and ecology to describe specific subfamilies of ants with nomadic, predatory lifestyles.
Everyday
Describing any overwhelming, swarming group: 'Shoppers descended on the sale like army ants.'
Technical
Refers specifically to ants in the subfamilies Dorylinae (Old World) and Ecitoninae (New World), known for colony emigration and group predation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “army ant”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “army ant”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “army ant”
- Using 'army ant' as a plural without adding 's' (e.g., 'I saw many army ant' is incorrect).
- Confusing 'army ant' with 'fire ant', which is a different, stinging species that establishes permanent nests.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While their bites can be painful, they are not typically lethal to humans. However, their massive swarms can overwhelm and kill small animals.
Army ants are predatory insects (order Hymenoptera), while termites (order Blattodea) are detritivores that eat wood and plant matter. They are not closely related.
Yes, it's commonly used to describe any large, relentless, and organized group, such as a crowd, a workforce, or a military unit, emphasizing their overwhelming and coordinated action.
No, they are nomadic. They create temporary living nests called bivouacs from their own bodies and frequently move their entire colony to new hunting grounds.
A type of nomadic ant that lives in large colonies and moves in massive, aggressive groups to hunt prey.
Army ant is usually neutral to technical (in biological contexts) in register.
Army ant: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɑː.mi ˌænt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɑːr.mi ˌænt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Like army ants (meaning: with relentless, collective efficiency)”
- “To have an army ant work ethic”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an ARMY of ANTs marching in perfect formation, conquering everything in their path. The word 'army' directly tells you their key trait.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORGANIZED GROUP IS AN ARMY; RELENTLESS ACTIVITY IS A SWARM; DESTRUCTIVE FORCE IS A NATURAL PHENOMENON.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of army ants?