homebody

American  

[hohm-bod-ee] / ˈhoʊmˌbɒd i /

noun

plural

homebodies

1. a person who prefers pleasures and activities that center around the home; stay-at-home.

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homebody British  

/ ˈhəʊmˌbɒdɪ /

noun

1. a person whose life and interests are centred on the home

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Usage

What is a homebody? A homebody is a person who enjoys being at home and doing activities that center around the home.If your ideal day includes staying home and working on home improvement projects, indulging in hobbies, or reading and playing video games, you might call yourself a homebody. While homebodies go out with friends and travel, their preference is staying at home, often alone or with close family. That preference is important.Sometimes homebody is applied to people with a mental illness, like agoraphobia, or a physical disability that keeps them at home, but that would be inaccurate. A homebody prefers to stay at home. If a disability keeps someone at home most of the time when they’d rather be traveling the world, for example, they are not a homebody. Equally, if someone is always away from home because they have to be but they want to be home, they still might call themselves a homebody.Example: Marvin was a real homebody, preferring to spend his days cooking in his kitchen for his family and friends.

Etymology

Origin of homebody

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25; home + body

Example Sentences

“It’s OK if I’m gonna be a homebody,” he says of Texas.

From Los Angeles Times

The self-proclaimed homebodies share that their ideal quality pastime is rewatching “Grey’s Anatomy” for the third time, sitting together in silence while enjoying cookie milkshakes, or spending a weekend away in nature.

From Los Angeles Times

“She’s really fun, but she’s more of a homebody than you.”

From Literature

I’m such a homebody, so I typically work out at home.

From The Wall Street Journal

Anderson described him as a "homebody" who "liked to gig around the home counties".

From BBC

Related Words

• observer