honeybee

noun

hon·​ey·​bee ˈhə-nē-ˌbē 

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

• worker
• queen
• drone

Examples of honeybee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Kleiser sees the vaccine as a first step toward keeping the roughly 3 million honeybee colonies in the U.S. healthy. —Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

The honeybee hives on the roof at Abt Electronics in Glenview are the giant retailer’s latest effort at environmentally sustainable initiatives that are also good for the bottom line. —Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2024

Our local honeybee mentor has given us suggestions to help battle the most surprising seasonal task. —Dani Benton, Contributor, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2024

In 2017, the beloved spot near New Albany High School got a mural makeover with colorful sights of honeybees and doughnuts covered with smiles and pink icing. —Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

honeybee

noun

hon·​ey·​bee -ˌbē 

: 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 

: 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