What is the Latin word for ant?

The usual Latin words for “ant” are formīca, formīcula, formīcōsus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“ant” in Latin

formīcaant formīculaA small ant.formīcōsusfull of ants, ant-filled

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

ant

formica: a little ant, formica parvula; formicula: overrun with ants, formicosus. An ant’s egg, ovum formicae.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for ant?: The usual Latin words for “ant” are formīca, formīcula, formīcōsus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.