Both words come from the Latin word “apis,” which means “bee.” Apis is also the name of the group of bees that includes honey bees.
The word “apiarist” was first used in 1816. It comes from the word “apiary,” which means “beehive.” Apiary has been around since the 1650s, but beekeeping as a business goes back even further, to ancient Egypt. Most of the time, the words “apiarist” and “apiculturist” are used to describe farmers who keep bees for money, either to sell their honey or to help pollinate crops. But scientists who study bees are also called apiarists. Apiarist is the term that people use more often.
