seabee: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical / Military / Informal
Quick answer
What does “seabee” mean?
A member of the U.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A member of the U.S. Navy's Construction Battalions (CB), responsible for military construction and engineering projects.
The term can refer to the military personnel themselves, their units, or more broadly to their culture and work. It is often used with pride and camaraderie among those who have served in these forces.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is specific to the United States Navy. In British English, an equivalent role might be referred to as a 'Royal Engineer' (from the British Army's Corps of Royal Engineers) or more generally as military construction personnel, but there is no direct lexical equivalent. The word 'Seabee' is not used in a UK military context.
Connotations
In American English, it carries strong connotations of skilled labor, toughness, resourcefulness, and the motto "Can Do." In British English, if encountered, it would be recognized as an Americanism with those specific military associations.
Frequency
Exclusively American in usage. Frequency is low in general discourse but high within U.S. military and veteran communities.
Grammar
How to Use “seabee” in a Sentence
He served as a Seabee.The Seabees constructed the airfield.She is a proud Seabee veteran.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “seabee” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- The Seabee ethos is one of perseverance.
- They showcased classic Seabee ingenuity.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, military, or engineering studies focusing on U.S. military operations.
Everyday
Rare, except in conversations involving U.S. military veterans or their families.
Technical
Standard term within U.S. Department of Defense and Navy contexts for referring to these specific units and personnel.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “seabee”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “seabee”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “seabee”
- Capitalization: 'Seabee' is typically capitalized as it is a proper noun referring to a specific group.
- Spelling: Misspelling as 'SeaBee', 'Sea Bee', or 'C.B.'
- Using it as a generic term for any sailor or Navy personnel.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is the official colloquial term for members of the United States Navy Construction Battalions (CBs).
Yes, women have been eligible to serve in the Seabees since the early 1970s.
While both are in the U.S. Navy, Seabees are specifically trained in construction, engineering, and combat support for such trades, whereas 'regular' sailors have roles focused on ship operations, aviation, etc.
Yes. Although their primary mission is construction, they are trained for defensive combat and have historically been involved in front-line operations, building under fire.
A member of the U.
Seabee is usually technical / military / informal in register.
Seabee: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsiː.biː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsiː.biː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"Can Do" spirit (associated with the Seabee ethos)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Sea' + 'Bee' (like the insect). The 'Bees' of the Sea who build and construct.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MILITARY IS A HIVE (with specialized workers like 'bees').
Practice
Quiz
What does 'Seabee' specifically refer to?