housefly

American  

[hous-flahy] / ˈhaʊsˌflaɪ /

Or house fly

noun

plural

houseflies

1. a medium-sized, gray-striped fly, Musca domestica, common around human habitations in nearly all parts of the world.

---

housefly British  

/ ˈhaʊsˌflaɪ /

noun

1. a common dipterous fly, Musca domestica, that frequents human habitations, spreads disease, and lays its eggs in carrion, decaying vegetables, etc: family Muscidae

---

Etymology

Origin of housefly

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; house, fly ¹

Example Sentences

Not really — though there is a nifty one-shot chase sequence where Lillis’ druid hastily shape-shifts among a housefly, a mouse, a cat and a deer.

From New York Times • Mar. 30, 2023

We’ve been wandering the preserve for more than an hour, and all we’ve seen are a few small wasps, a couple of ants, a housefly and lots of honey bees, which is a bad sign.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2022

If you see a dead housefly on a windowsill surrounded by a ghostly halo of tiny white spores, it’s a death trap.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 1, 2021

Their traveling companion — and here’s where I’ve buried the lead — is a giant housefly named Dominique, which they’re training to obey commands, like a dog, so that it will steal food for them.

From Washington Post • Jul. 20, 2021

In the first place, as we have seen, the housefly has now become virtually uncontrollable by insecticides.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson