beekeeper

American

[bee-kee-per] / ˈbiˌki pər /

noun

a person who raises honeybees; apiculturist.

beekeeper British

/ ˈbiːˌkiːpə /

noun

a person who keeps bees for their honey; apiarist

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

beekeeping noun

Etymology

Origin of beekeeper

First recorded in 1810–20; bee ¹ + keeper

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

These are cared for by a local beekeeper, with their honey available at the on-site honesty shop.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

There are even bees and a beekeeper, who harvests honey for employees to take home.

From Barron's • Nov. 15, 2025

The beekeeper, who sells his own honey from nearby Priorslee, said when bees did this they had "nothing to defend so tend not to be too aggressive".

From BBC • Jun. 16, 2025

The duchess announces her entrance by speaking “in our bee voice,” a low volume meant to maintain calm as she and her beekeeper mentor collect honey from their hive.

From Salon • Mar. 5, 2025

“You can’t be a true beekeeper without getting stung.”

From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023