home economics

American  

noun

1. the art and science of home management.

2. a college curriculum usually including studies in nutrition, the purchase, preparation, and service of food, interior design, clothing and textiles, child development, family relationships, and household economics.

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home economics British  

noun

1. (functioning as singular or plural) the study of diet, budgeting, child care, textiles, and other subjects concerned with running a home

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• home economist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of home economics

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Example Sentences

She competed in—and won—pageants and was active in her Baptist church, before getting a degree in home economics from the University of Kentucky.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

On Saturday morning the party launched a number of policies including a promise to bring down waits for NHS treatment to no more than a year, and reinstating home economics to schools.

From BBC • May 16, 2025

According to the Craft Industry Alliance, by 2012 only 3.5 million students were enrolled in home economics classes nationwide, a decrease of 38% over the prior decade.

From Salon • Feb. 4, 2024

“It doesn’t,” replied Ms. Martin, who is also a Republican and taught home economics for 18 years at the Pittsburg School down the road.

From New York Times • Jan. 22, 2024

I nodded, wishing that Frankie and I had gotten them something better than the apron and handkerchiefs I’d sewn in home economics class and the Popsicle ornaments and drawings Frankie had made.

From "The Red Umbrella" by Christina Gonzalez