wasps, the
B1Neutral to informal when referring to the insect; formal/sociological when referring to the demographic group.
Definition
Meaning
Stinging flying insects of the family Vespidae, often with black and yellow stripes, known for building nests and sometimes aggressive behaviour.
Often used to refer to a social group, notably 'White Anglo-Saxon Protestants' (WASP), a cultural and demographic identifier in the US.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The plural form 'wasps' is overwhelmingly more frequent than the singular 'wasp' in general usage, as they are typically encountered or discussed as a group or nest. The demonym 'WASPs' is always capitalised.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The insect reference is identical. The acronym 'WASP' is primarily an American socio-cultural term, rarely used in British English.
Connotations
Insect: universally negative (pain, nuisance). Demonym: In the US, it can carry connotations of established wealth, privilege, and cultural conservatism.
Frequency
'Wasps' (insect) is common in both varieties. 'WASPs' is a specialised term in AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SUBJECT] disturbed the wasps.The wasps [VERB] the intruder.There are wasps [PREP. PHRASE].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Stir up a hornet's/wasp's nest (to cause a lot of trouble).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used, except metaphorically: 'The new policy stirred up a wasps' nest of complaints.'
Academic
Used in entomology and sociology (for WASP).
Everyday
Very common when discussing gardens, picnics, pests.
Technical
Used precisely in zoological classifications (e.g., 'vespid wasps').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The picnic was completely waspsed.
- (rare, informal)
American English
- We got waspsed out of the backyard.
- (rare, informal)
adjective
British English
- A wasp-infested loft.
- A wasp sting kit.
American English
- A wasp-free patio.
- WASP culture (adjective from acronym).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I see two wasps near the window.
- Wasps can sting.
- We had to cancel the barbecue because of the wasps.
- A nest of wasps was found in the shed.
- The gardener was attacked by a swarm of aggressive wasps.
- The historical influence of WASPs on American institutions is well-documented.
- Efforts to eradicate the invasive Asian hornet, a type of wasp, are intensifying across Europe.
- Her analysis deconstructed the myth of WASP hegemony in mid-century corporate America.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Wasps Are Serious Pests; they Sting.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGGRESSION IS A WASP (e.g., 'His criticism was waspish.'); SOCIAL DISCOMFORT IS A WASP'S NEST (e.g., 'That topic is a wasps' nest.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'оса' (wasp) used for a single insect; the plural 'wasps' is 'осы'. The English word covers many specific types (hornets, yellowjackets) that have distinct words in Russian (шершень, бумажная оса).
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing the 'ps' as two separate syllables (/wɒs-pɪz/).
- Misspelling as 'waspses' or 'waspes'.
- Using 'WASP' uncapitalised when referring to the social group.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common everyday meaning of 'wasps'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Wasps are generally smoother, more aggressive, and carnivorous/omnivorous. Bees are hairier, feed on pollen/nectar, and usually die after stinging.
No. One person can be described as a WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant). The plural is WASPs.
The 'p' and 's' blend together: /sps/. It's one consonant cluster, not two separate sounds.
No. Many wasp species are solitary. The social wasps (like yellowjackets) that live in large nests are the most commonly noticed.