# dumbledore

/ˈdəmbəɫˌdɔɹ/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dumbledore
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

an old word for a bumblebee. It is rarely used today except in very old stories or specific local areas in England.

For teachers: a regional or archaic name for a bumblebee. Primarily found in West Country dialects of English and now largely obsolete in general usage.

## Examples

- A large dumbledore buzzed around the garden flowers.
- While walking through the meadows of Dorset, the poet noted the low hum of a dumbledore among the clover.
- The use of 'dumbledore' to describe a bumblebee survives mainly in historical dialect glossaries, though it gained modern fame as the surname for a prominent literary wizard.

## Usage notes

- Typically used in literary or dialectal contexts; often capitalised when referring to the fictional character.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.