What does alated mean?
Alated is a formal adjective meaning winged — that is, possessing wings or winglike appendages. It appears most often in scientific writing: entomologists use it to describe the winged reproductive forms of ants and termites, which emerge briefly to mate and found new colonies, while botanists apply it to stems, seeds, or fruits edged with flat, winglike ridges. The word derives from the Latin alatus, formed from ala, meaning wing, and is closely related to the simpler adjective alate. Because of its Latin pedigree and precise technical sense, alated carries a scholarly tone and is rarely heard in casual conversation, though it can lend vivid, evocative precision to descriptive writing about insects, plants, or anything winged. Readers who meet it will most likely encounter it in natural-history prose or field guides.
adjectiveHaving wings or winglike appendages; winged.
- Having wings or winglike structures; winged.
"The alated queen lifted off from the anthill on her nuptial flight."
"On humid summer evenings, the alated termites swarmed toward the porch light."
"Botanists describe the stem as alated because of its thin, winglike ridges."
Every flying ant you've ever seen was once 'alated' — the technical term entomologists use for the brief winged stage of an insect's life.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of alated
Alated comes from the Latin alatus, meaning 'winged,' which is itself derived from ala, the Latin word for a wing or armpit. English adopted the word in the seventeenth century, alongside its close relative alate, and both remain in use mainly within entomology and botany. Other English terms drawn from the same Latin root include alar and alary, both describing things relating to wings.
Related word forms
How alated is actually used
A formal, technical word used chiefly in entomology and botany rather than everyday speech. In entomology it often describes the winged reproductive stage of ants and termites; in botany it describes stems or fruits bearing flat, winglike edges.
Easily confused with alated
Elated means overjoyed or in high spirits, while alated means physically winged — they sound alike but differ entirely in meaning.