Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Halictus

noun
Ha·lic·tus | \ həˈliktəs \

Definition of Halictus 

: a cosmopolitan genus of gregarious but not social burrowing bees that provision the larval cells with pollen and nectar and include important pollinators of economic plants — see sweat bee

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for Halictus

New Latin, irregular from Greek halizein to gather, assemble, from halēs assembled, pressed together

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about Halictus

Dictionary Entries near Halictus

Haliclystus

Halicore

Halictidae

Halictus

halide

halidom

halier

Statistics for Halictus

Look-up Popularity

Comments on Halictus

What made you want to look up Halictus? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

panoply

a magnificent or impressive array

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Name that Food Quiz

  • alt-573b465788319
  • Name these cookies!
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Bee Cubed

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games