sweat bee

noun

: any of various small black or brownish bees (family Halictidae) that are attracted to perspiration

Examples of sweat bee 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.
Dark sweat bees: Abundant native bees that are dark in color. Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 26 Apr. 2026 For sweat bees, humidity changes their already vibrant colors. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 23 Apr. 2026 Bloodroot’s delicate white flowers are also highly attractive to early season pollinators, including native mining bees and sweat bees. Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 6 Apr. 2026 Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial sun Soil Type: Clay, loam Soil pH: Acidic , Goldenrod is positively abuzz with bees in fall, from tiny sweat bees to huge carpenter bees. Michelle Darrisaw, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2026 Common bee species include mason bees, bumblebees, carpenter bees, leafcutter bees and sweat bees, according to the city. Dana Afana, Detroit Free Press, 21 May 2024 The intricacy of how tiny iridescent sweat bees have evolved to extract pollen from swamp asters and other flowers is not arbitrary. Time, 12 July 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sweat bee was in 1894

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Cite this Entry

“Sweat bee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweat%20bee. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

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