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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The females are capable of stinging, but lack the instinct to guard their nest like a honeybee. 
Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2022 For some context, a sting from another insect, like a honeybee for example, only scores up to two on the Schmidt Pain Scale. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 14 July 2022 Since graduating from Forté's honeybee course, the bees have become part of their lives. Jonmaesha Beltran, The Arizona Republic, 28 July 2022 Since then, Detroit Hives has conducted more than 800 educational tours and currently manages more than 50 honeybee colonies in the area. Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 10 June 2022 For seeded watermelons, 500 to 1,000 grains of pollen must be carried from the male flower to the female flower, about eight trips for a honeybee according to the Clemson Cooperative Extension. Dezimey Kum, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 2022 In the study, our valiant honeybee heroes were sequestered into two control groups. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 5 May 2022 Previous honeybee shipments had made their way to Alaska aboard Delta Air Lines flights from Sacramento to Seattle and then on to Anchorage, a route Ms. McElrea has used many times. New York Times, 28 Apr. 2022 If the honeybee can pull it off, maybe humans can simplify things too. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 5 May 2022 See More
Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2022 For some context, a sting from another insect, like a honeybee for example, only scores up to two on the Schmidt Pain Scale. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 14 July 2022 Since graduating from Forté's honeybee course, the bees have become part of their lives. Jonmaesha Beltran, The Arizona Republic, 28 July 2022 Since then, Detroit Hives has conducted more than 800 educational tours and currently manages more than 50 honeybee colonies in the area. Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 10 June 2022 For seeded watermelons, 500 to 1,000 grains of pollen must be carried from the male flower to the female flower, about eight trips for a honeybee according to the Clemson Cooperative Extension. Dezimey Kum, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 2022 In the study, our valiant honeybee heroes were sequestered into two control groups. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 5 May 2022 Previous honeybee shipments had made their way to Alaska aboard Delta Air Lines flights from Sacramento to Seattle and then on to Anchorage, a route Ms. McElrea has used many times. New York Times, 28 Apr. 2022 If the honeybee can pull it off, maybe humans can simplify things too. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 5 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
honeybee
noun
hon·ey·bee ˈhə-nē-ˌbē
: a bee whose honey is used by people as food
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