Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

dayfly

Noun

/ˈdeɪˌflaɪ/

Definition

A type of insect that lives for a very short time, typically just one day, particularly in its adult form.

Examples

The dayfly emerged in the warm sunlight, its brief life beginning to flourish.
Many species of dayflies only live long enough to mate and lay eggs before dying.
On a summer evening, you might see clouds of dayflies dancing in the air, a spectacle of nature.

Meaning

The term ‘dayfly’ refers to insects from the order Ephemeroptera, known for their extremely brief adult lifespan, often lasting only a day or less, which is where the name originates.