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

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

Home to over 8 million honeybees across eight apiaries, advanced hydroponics and aquaculture technology, Southall leads with sustainability and innovation in mind to provide amenities and culinary offerings rooted in the land’s past, present and future. —Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for honeybee

• agree
• allee
• banshee
• beastly
• bibi
• bowsprit
• carefree
• cerci
• chablis
• cowpea
• crappie
• crappy

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