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Definition of honeyguide

honeyguide

/ˈhʌn.iˌɡaɪd/
hon · ey · guide
Plural:honeyguides
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honeyguide Lexical Profile

honeyguide Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of several species of mostly dull-colored birds of the family Indicatoridae, native primarily to Sub-Saharan Africa and known for their remarkable behavior of leading humans and other mammals to wild bee colonies so they can feed on the leftover beeswax and larvae.

Example

"The local foragers whistled to attract a honeyguide, hoping the small bird would lead them to a fresh hive hidden in the baobab tree."

• Nearby Words

honeycup
honeydew
honeyeater
honeyguide
honeysuckle
hong kong
honiara

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'honey' and 'guide', first recorded in the late 18th century, referring directly to the bird's famous mutualistic behavior of leading humans and other mammals to wild bees' nests.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Honeyguide. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/honeyguide
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