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
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
See All Example Sentences for honeybee
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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
See All Example Sentences for honeybee
Cite this Entry
“Honeybee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honeybee. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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
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