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.
The domestication of honeybees not only transformed honey production but also impacted agriculture and ecosystems. Scott Travers, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025 For eusocial insects, like honeybees, grooming for parasites can be a collective activity rather than an individual one. Gabe Allen, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2025 European honeybees regularly comb through the hairy area under their nest mates wings using their mandibles. Gabe Allen, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2025 Since then, humans have launched all sorts of creatures into space, including tortoises, frogs, cockroaches, honeybees, jellyfish and more. 8. Regina Kim, Forbes, 15 Jan. 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 3 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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