honeybee

noun

hon·​ey·​bee ˈhə-nē-ˌbē 

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

• worker
• queen
• drone

Examples of honeybee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These bees are a hybrid between African and European honeybees, which were crossbred to produce mild-mannered, productive bees. —Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 9 July 2025

The scientists measured honeybee visits to the flowers, flower production, pollen generation and pollen removal for the three species. —Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 7 July 2025

This would be more acceptable if honeybees weren’t also a nonnative species. —Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

Some commercial honeybee feeds are available, but according to scientists at Washington State University (WSU), even those aren't nutritionally complete. —Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for honeybee

• agree
• allee
• banshee
• beastly
• bibi
• bowsprit
• carefree
• cerci
• chablis
• cowpea
• crappie
• crappy

Kids Definition

honeybee

noun

hon·​ey·​bee -ˌbē 

: 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 

: 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