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.
For Earth Day, is there a more appropriate way to celebrate than hanging out with endangered red wolves, a chef who harvests edible plants and imperiled honeybees? John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026 Small white to pink flowers are produced in showy clusters that attract honeybees and other pollinators to the garden. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026 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 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 30 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