pest

The word “pest” means an insect or animal that damages crops, spreads disease, or is otherwise harmful. In plain terms, either a harmful/destructive creature (like an insect) or, informally, an annoying person.

“Pest” is pronounced pehst (/pɛst/ in IPA).

Here is “pest” used in a sentence: “Aphids are a common pest in vegetable gardens.”

Words with a similar meaning to “pest” include bug.

“Pest” is a noun.

The word “pest” comes from Latin. From Middle French peste ("plague"), ultimately from Latin pestis. Originally referred to deadly epidemics like the plague before broadening to any harmful creature or annoying person.

“Pest” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Pest” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an insect or animal that damages crops, spreads disease, or is otherwise harmful.

A pest is any insect or animal that damages crops, spreads disease, or otherwise causes harm, while a parasite specifically lives on or inside another organism and feeds off it. All parasites that cause harm can be called pests, but many pests, such as locusts or rats, are not parasites.

Calling a person a "pest" is mildly critical but usually lighthearted rather than genuinely offensive, often used about someone who keeps bothering others in a minor, irritating way, such as a nagging child or coworker. It is informal and best avoided in formal or professional writing.

Pest control refers to the business or process of managing and removing insects or animals that damage property, crops, or spread disease, such as rodents, termites, or cockroaches. The term uses "pest" in its literal sense of a harmful creature rather than an annoying person.