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 creatures emerging from the carcass were actually drone flies, close enough in appearance to honeybees to sustain a flawed belief across millennia. Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026 The documentary series, which premieres on National Geographic tomorrow and will be available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu on April 1, offers an intimate perspective on a hive of honeybees preparing to survive the winter. Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 30 Mar. 2026 Lambda-cyhalothrin, which starves insects and is lethal to honeybees, was found on cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums, lettuce and broccoli. Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026 The bill would exempt honeybee purchases from the sales tax, strengthen local food programs and change some truck weight requirements. Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 20 Feb. 2026 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. 2026.

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

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