killer bee

noun

Definition of killer bee

: africanized bee

Examples of killer bee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But killer bees—hybrids of the relatively docile European strain of honey bee and a more aggressive African relative—are particularly fierce. — Elizabeth Pennisi, Science | AAAS, "What turns bees into killer bees?," 15 June 2018 His team hopes to eventually use these insights to develop a way to protect people from these killer bees, perhaps through a spray or chemical plug that can be applied to a hive. — Elizabeth Pennisi, Science | AAAS, "What turns bees into killer bees?," 15 June 2018 A week before the vote, a swarm of killer bees attacked supporters who showed up to see Uribe speak at a Duque rally in a small town in northern Colombia. — NBC News, "Former guerrilla, young conservative vie to lead Colombia," 17 June 2018 A week before the vote, a swarm of killer bees attacked supporters who showed up to see Uribe speak at a Duque rally in a small town in northern Colombia. — Washington Post, "Former guerrilla, young conservative vie to lead Colombia," 17 June 2018 An auto racing legend and Indianapolis 500 star was attacked by killer bees Wednesday and wound up in the hospital—for the second time. — Elana Glowatz, Newsweek, "Killer Bees Attack Indy 500 Winner A.J. Foyt for Second Time," 16 Mar. 2018 Theatricality: True to this world where sizzle substitutes for substance, video projections create architecture and gardens, dining rooms and libraries, killer bees (really) and pools of blood. — Mike Fischer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Monty Python fans may love'Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder'," 2 May 2018 That’s what the researchers think happened with the killer bees. — Kastalia Medrano, Newsweek, "Puerto Rico's Hurricane Destruction May Have Doomed the World's Honeybees," 18 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'killer bee.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

12 Sep 2019

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The first known use of killer bee was in 1976

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killer bee

noun

Financial Definition of killer bee

What It Is

Killer bees are people or companies that help other companies avoid takeovers.

How It Works

Let's assume that Company ABC wants to purchase Company XYZ. Company XYZ's board does not want to sell the company to Company ABC, but Company ABC is threatening a hostile takeover.

Company XYZ calls its investment bank, which acts as a killer bee and devises a few methods to ward off Company ABC. It comes up with the Pac-Man defense and the Jonestown defense, which you can read about in the InvestingAnswers.com dictionary. The killer bee helps Company XYZ amend its corporate charter and implement the anti-takeover defenses. Company ABC calls off its acquisition efforts.

Why It Matters

Killer bees can save the day for shareholders of targets. By devising ways to defend companies from takeovers, they can cost potential acquirers millions of dollars by implementing changes that force acquirers to pay more or dilute the acquirer's holdings.

The term gets its name from a type of bee that aggressively attacks perceived threats.

Source: Investing Answers

killer bee

noun