# pest

/ˈpɛst/ (US) · /pˈɛst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pest
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. annoying person

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a person who is very annoying or keeps bothering you.

For teachers: a person who causes persistent annoyance or nuisance through their behaviour.

- My little brother is being a real pest while I am trying to study.
- The persistent salesman became such a pest that the manager eventually had to ask him to leave the premises.

### 2. destructive animal or insect

noun · CEFR B1

an insect or small animal that damages crops, food, or buildings.

For teachers: any organism, typically an insect or rodent, that is destructive to livestock, crops, or stored goods.

- Farmers use various methods to protect their corn from common garden pests.
- The agricultural department released a report on managing invasive pests that had been devastating local vineyards throughout the summer.

### 3. deadly plague

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a serious disease that spreads quickly and kills many people.

For teachers: a fatal epidemic disease, specifically the bubonic plague.

- The old stories tell of a terrible pest that swept through the city.
- Historical chronicles from the fourteenth century describe the arrival of the pest with a grim focus on its rapid transmission through the port.

### 4. part of Budapest

noun · CEFR B2

the name of the eastern part of Budapest, the capital of Hungary.

For teachers: the eastern, mostly flat portion of Budapest, Hungary, situated on the left bank of the Danube.

- We spent the afternoon exploring the shops and cafes in Pest.
- While Buda is known for its historic hills and royal palace, Pest serves as the vibrant commercial and administrative heart of the capital.

## Examples

- The farmer used a spray to keep the pests away from his corn.
- My little brother is being a real pest today because he keeps interrupting my work.
- While some insects are beneficial to the garden ecosystem, others are classified as pests because they consume the foliage of ornamental plants and spread viral diseases.

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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.