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.
Now, climate change is the top reason, with others including pesticides, herbicides and competition from honeybees. Liz Ohanesian, Oc Register, 14 Apr. 2026 Pollinator gardens have been around for many years, but took off in the mid-2000s as gardeners were alarmed by the decline of honeybees. Adam Harrington, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026 Susan Hare, a licensed pest management professional with Thrasher Pest, has honeybees and 14 species of native California bees buzzing around her garden. Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 7 Apr. 2026 The area is home to the largest pollination event in the world, when billions of honeybees spend a month among the almond blossoms. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Honeybee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honeybee. Accessed 21 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

More from Merriam-Webster on honeybee

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster