beekeeping: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral, formal in agricultural/technical contexts, informal when referring to a hobby.
Quick answer
What does “beekeeping” mean?
The activity, hobby, or profession of looking after colonies of honey bees in hives.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The activity, hobby, or profession of looking after colonies of honey bees in hives.
The systematic management and cultivation of bee colonies, primarily for the production of honey, beeswax, and for crop pollination services.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The word 'apiary' (a place where bees are kept) is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally neutral; associated with rural life, sustainability, and environmentalism in both cultures.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK discourse due to a strong tradition of amateur beekeeping associations.
Grammar
How to Use “beekeeping” in a Sentence
[Subject] + [verb] + beekeeping (e.g., She practises beekeeping).[Beekeeping] + [verb] + [object] (e.g., Beekeeping requires patience).[Adjective] + beekeeping (e.g., commercial beekeeping).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “beekeeping” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He has been beekeeping for twenty years.
- She decided to take a course to learn how to bee-keep properly.
American English
- They've been beekeeping on their farm since the 1990s.
- I want to try beekeeping next spring.
adjective
British English
- She joined the local beekeeping association.
- He bought some new beekeeping overalls.
American English
- The beekeeping community is very supportive.
- They sell beekeeping supplies at the feed store.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the commercial production of honey and related products, or pollination services for agriculture.
Academic
Used in agricultural science, environmental studies, and biology papers on pollination ecology.
Everyday
Refers to a hobby or small-scale activity in gardens or rural settings.
Technical
Specific practices, hive management, disease control, and breeding within apiculture.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “beekeeping”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “beekeeping”
- Misspelling as 'bee keeping' (should be one word or hyphenated: beekeeping or bee-keeping).
- Using 'beekeeping' to refer to the place (that is an 'apiary').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standard as one word ('beekeeping'), though the hyphenated form 'bee-keeping' is sometimes seen, especially in older texts.
A beekeeper or an apiarist.
'Beekeeping' is the activity. An 'apiary' is the physical location where the bee hives are kept.
It requires learning specific skills and knowledge about bee behaviour, hive management, and safety, but many people learn it through local associations and courses.
The activity, hobby, or profession of looking after colonies of honey bees in hives.
Beekeeping is usually neutral, formal in agricultural/technical contexts, informal when referring to a hobby. in register.
Beekeeping: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbiːˌkiːpɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbiˌkipɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Mind your own beeswax (humorous play on 'beekeeping', but not a direct idiom of the word itself).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: KEEPing BEES. You KEEP bees in a hive. It's the care and maintenance (keeping) of bees.
Conceptual Metaphor
BEEKEEPING IS STEWARDSHIP/CULTIVATION (managing a natural resource). BEEKEEPING IS A CRAFT (requiring skill and knowledge).
Practice
Quiz
What is the formal, technical term for beekeeping?