stinger: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to informal; technical in zoological contexts.
Quick answer
What does “stinger” mean?
A sharp, pointed organ or part of certain animals (such as bees, scorpions, or jellyfish) used to inject venom or cause pain.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sharp, pointed organ or part of certain animals (such as bees, scorpions, or jellyfish) used to inject venom or cause pain.
Anything that delivers a sharp or painful experience, whether physical (e.g., a barbed wire) or metaphorical (e.g., a sharp criticism or hidden fee).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In rugby (UK/NZ/Aus etc.), 'stinger' can refer to a try scored between the posts. In American football, a 'stinger' is a specific nerve injury to the shoulder/neck. The animal/insect meaning is common to both.
Connotations
UK: More associated with insects and rugby. US: More associated with insects, American football injuries, and colloquially for a hidden drawback.
Frequency
Comparatively low frequency in both varieties, but understood. The insect sense is most universal.
Grammar
How to Use “stinger” in a Sentence
[Animal] has a stinger[Person/thing] felt the stinger of [something]The [device] is a real stingerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stinger” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The player managed to stinger the ball right through the defence.
- That comment really did stinger him.
American English
- The pitcher stungered a fastball right past the batter.
- The critic's review stungered the author's pride.
adverb
British English
- N/A - Extremely rare and non-standard.
American English
- N/A - Extremely rare and non-standard.
adjective
British English
- He delivered a stinger of a serve.
- It was a stinger remark.
American English
- She threw a stinger pass for the touchdown.
- He made a stinger comment about the budget.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A hidden fee or unexpected cost in a contract (e.g., 'The loan had a nasty stinger in the fine print').
Academic
Used in biology/zoology to describe the modified ovipositor of hymenopterans or the cnidocyte of jellyfish.
Everyday
Referring to the part of a bee or wasp left in the skin. Also used for a sharp, sudden pain (e.g., 'I got a stinger in my shoulder from the fall').
Technical
In entomology: the piercing organ of insects. In military slang: a portable surface-to-air missile system.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stinger”
- Using 'stinger' to mean the act of stinging (verb) instead of the noun for the organ/object.
- Confusing 'stinger' with 'stingray' (the fish).
- Incorrect: 'The bee stungered me.' Correct: 'The bee left its stinger in me.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A stinger is a specific anatomical structure that pierces and injects venom (e.g., bee, wasp). A bite involves teeth or mouthparts (e.g., mosquito, dog).
While 'sting' is the standard verb, 'stinger' is occasionally used informally/colloquially as a verb, especially in sports commentary (e.g., 'He stungered it into the net'), but this is non-standard.
Scrape it out sideways with a fingernail or credit card; do not pinch it with tweezers, as this can squeeze more venom into the wound.
It's a colloquial term for an unpleasant hidden condition or unexpected high cost in an otherwise attractive deal or contract.
A sharp, pointed organ or part of certain animals (such as bees, scorpions, or jellyfish) used to inject venom or cause pain.
Stinger is usually neutral to informal; technical in zoological contexts. in register.
Stinger: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstɪŋ.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstɪŋ.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The sting in the tail (related concept)”
- “Feel the stinger of defeat/rejection”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SINGER who STINGS you with a high note – a STINGER.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRITICISM/PAIN IS A PHYSICAL STING (e.g., 'Her words left a stinger in my mind').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'stinger' LEAST likely to be used?