homily

American  

[hom-uh-lee] / ˈhɒm ə li /

noun

homilies plural

1. a sermon, usually on a Biblical topic and usually of a nondoctrinal nature.

2. an admonitory or moralizing discourse.

3. an inspirational saying or cliché.

---

homily British  

/ ˈhɒmɪlɪ /

noun

1. a sermon or discourse on a moral or religious topic

2. moralizing talk or writing

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• homilist
  noun

Inflected Forms

noun

• homilies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of homily

1545–55; < Late Latin homīlia < Greek homīlía assembly, sermon, equivalent to hómīl ( os ) crowd ( hom ( oû ) together + -īlos, masculine combining form of ī́lē (feminine) crowd) + -ia -y ³; replacing Middle English omelie < Middle French < Latin, as above

Compare meaning

How does homily compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• homily vs. sermon

Explanation

A homily is a sermon or religious speech offering encouragement or moral correction. Isn’t it strange how sometimes, when you're struggling with something, a preacher comes on TV giving a homily on that same problem?! Too bad it happens when you do bad stuff, too. In many churches and lecture halls, a homily is just a short message on a religious topic or moral issue that's meant to encourage those who hear it. Another type of homily, though, is one that's judgmental or condemning. If you hear a homily and feel better afterward, even if it delivers hard truths about right and wrong, you've heard an uplifting homily. One that leaves you mad and frustrated, however, might make you need another homily on forgiveness and self-control.

Example Sentences

The Homily will be preached by parish priest Father Roddy McAuley, who has described Mr Kennedy as "a much loved and respected parishioner".

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2015

Eccleston will star as Homily, the father of teenage Borrower Arrietty.

From BBC • Jun. 20, 2011

I set it on the kitchen table—a reminder of wishes come true—lit the kerosene lamp and finished writing my Honyocker’s Homily.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson

But as Gregory observes in a Homily for Pentecost, "God's love is never idle; for, wherever it is it does great works."

From Summa Theologica, Part III (Tertia Pars) From the Complete American Edition by Thomas, Aquinas, Saint

The word "Homily," in the second of these rubrics, means "a plain sermon."

From The Church Handy Dictionary by Anonymous

Related Words

• lecture