# locust

/ˈɫoʊkəst/ (US) · /lˈəʊkʌst/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/locust
Updated: 2026-06-18

## Definition

a type of large grasshopper that lives in groups and eats a lot of plants. When there are too many of them, they can destroy whole fields of crops.

For teachers: a species of grasshopper that lives in swarms and feeds on vegetation. Often used in the plural to describe a destructive mass of these insects that can strip a landscape of its foliage.

## Examples

- A swarm of locusts flew over the farm.
- The government sent a team of experts to the region to spray the locusts and protect the remaining wheat fields.
- Historical records indicate that a massive locust plague once descended upon the valley, consuming every green leaf and leaving the local population facing a severe food shortage for the following winter.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.