bee-eater

noun

bee-eat·​er ˈbē-ˌē-tər How to pronounce bee-eater (audio)
: any of a family (Meropidae) of brightly colored slender-billed insectivorous chiefly tropical Old World birds

Examples of bee-eater in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Perhaps swallow-tail bee-eaters, Africa openbill storks, and Burchell’s starlings, their stunning plumage flashing blue-green in the pink-gold gloaming: such sightings lend instant credence to the adage that Africa will make a birder out of anyone. Alexandra Kirkman, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025 Blanco’s shot of a colorful European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) in mid-flight with an insect in its beak won this year’s young photographer category. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Jan. 2025 Looking skyward, the southern reaches of Kenya also serve as a paradise for birdwatchers, with colorful animals like the malachite kingfisher, little bee-eater and Marico sunbird calling the region home. Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025 Some of the more colorful birds that can be seen here include the oriole; the hoopoe, which can be found in orchards and forests; and the beautiful European bee-eater, which nests in colonies on sandy banks along rivers. David Escribano, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2024 Other drawings up for auction include bee-eater birds, a Harrod's-style delivery van, a rabbit, an Easter card featuring a bunny, and a drawing of an owl, deer and squirrels. Town & Country, 16 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bee-eater was in 1668

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Cite this Entry

“Bee-eater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bee-eater. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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