bumblebee

noun

bum·​ble·​bee ˈbəm-bəl-ˌbē How to pronounce bumblebee (audio)
variants or less commonly bumble bee
: any of numerous large robust hairy social bees (genus Bombus)

Examples of bumblebee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Some bumblebee populations have been disappearing from the southern parts of their geographic range and have been found in cooler regions to the north and in more mountainous areas. Courtney McGinnis, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2025 Where do the natural wonders of America’s wildlife in its mute creatures—the tortoises, birds, bumblebees, flowers, fish and forests—fit in the fiscal tug-of-war amid current political winners and losers? Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025 The long-lasting blooms attract hummingbirds, bumblebees, and butterflies to the garden and make excellent cut flowers. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2025 Some California native bees and bumblebees have gone extinct or are teetering on the brink. Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bumblebee

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bumblebee was in 1530

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Cite this Entry

“Bumblebee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bumblebee. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

bumblebee

noun
bum·​ble·​bee ˈbəm-bəl-ˌbē How to pronounce bumblebee (audio)
: any of numerous large hairy social bees

More from Merriam-Webster on bumblebee

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