honeybee

noun

hon·​ey·​bee ˈhə-nē-ˌbē How to pronounce honeybee (audio)
variants or honey bee
: a honey-producing bee (genus Apis of the family Apidae)
especially : a European bee (A. mellifera) introduced worldwide and kept in hives for the honey it produces

Illustration of honeybee

Illustration of honeybee
  • worker
  • queen
  • drone

Examples of honeybee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These happy honeybees have found a source of copious amounts of nectar from this furry explosion of fuzz and fringe. New York Times Games, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025 Get The Recipe 10 of 10 Honeybee Cupcakes Springtime means the return of flowers—and honeybees! Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2025 Swarming, the process by which honeybees reproduce to form new colonies, usually begins in spring and can last through June, according to the Connecticut Beekeepers Association. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2025 The honeybee isn't one of them - they were brought to the U.S. from Europe in the 1600s. Martha Ann Overland, NPR, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for honeybee

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of honeybee was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Honeybee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honeybee. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

honeybee

noun
hon·​ey·​bee -ˌbē How to pronounce honeybee (audio)
: a bee that produces honey and lives in colonies
especially : a European bee widely kept in hives for the honey it produces

Medical Definition

honeybee

noun
hon·​ey·​bee ˈhən-ē-ˌbē How to pronounce honeybee (audio)
: a honey-producing bee (Apis and related genera)
especially : a European bee (A. mellifera) introduced worldwide and kept in hives for the honey it produces

More from Merriam-Webster on honeybee

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