Illustration of honeybee
- worker
- queen
- drone
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
Examples of honeybee in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a 2023 study of honeybees, AI deciphered a pattern in movements the bees used to communicate.
—
Julia Daye, Miami Herald, 8 May 2024
Past research on honeybees has shown that hotter nest temperatures compromise the queens’ ability to reproduce and lead to smaller, less hardy worker bees.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 May 2024
But Arizona's native bees would never swarm like those honeybees.
—Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 6 May 2024
In contrast to the large nests of honeybees, the Arctic bumblebee colonies only had about 20 or less individuals.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2024
The lush violet, drooping flowers of buddleia (commonly referred to as butterfly bush) will also draw honeybees and hummingbirds to your yard.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2024
Advertisement California, known for its vast agricultural landscapes and diverse flora, plays a crucial role in honeybee swarming dynamics.
—Leah Taylor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
Insecticides, including neonicotinoids, leave behind harmful residues that are toxic to crucial pollinators, such as honeybees, and sticky bands can inadvertently trap birds, small animals and other insects in their adhesive grip.
—Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024
Now, around 80 members tend to 50,000 native honeybees—and are rewarded with a cut of golden honey.
—Frankie Adkins, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024
Julia Daye, Miami Herald, 8 May 2024
Past research on honeybees has shown that hotter nest temperatures compromise the queens’ ability to reproduce and lead to smaller, less hardy worker bees.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 May 2024
But Arizona's native bees would never swarm like those honeybees.
—Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 6 May 2024
In contrast to the large nests of honeybees, the Arctic bumblebee colonies only had about 20 or less individuals.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2024
The lush violet, drooping flowers of buddleia (commonly referred to as butterfly bush) will also draw honeybees and hummingbirds to your yard.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2024
Advertisement California, known for its vast agricultural landscapes and diverse flora, plays a crucial role in honeybee swarming dynamics.
—Leah Taylor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
Insecticides, including neonicotinoids, leave behind harmful residues that are toxic to crucial pollinators, such as honeybees, and sticky bands can inadvertently trap birds, small animals and other insects in their adhesive grip.
—Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024
Now, around 80 members tend to 50,000 native honeybees—and are rewarded with a cut of golden honey.
—Frankie Adkins, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'honeybee.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to honeybee
Dictionary Entries Near honeybee
Cite this Entry
“Honeybee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honeybee. Accessed 18 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share