homely

[hohm-lee]

adjective

homelier, homeliest 

1. lacking in physical attractiveness; not beautiful; unattractive.

   a homely child.

2. not having elegance, refinement, or cultivation.

3. proper or suited to the home or to ordinary domestic life; plain; unpretentious.

   homely food.

4. commonly seen or known.

homely

/ ˈhəʊmlɪ /

adjective

1. characteristic of or suited to the ordinary home; unpretentious

2. 1. warm and domesticated in manner or appearance

   2. plain or ugly

Other Word Forms

• homeliness noun
• overhomeliness noun
• overhomely adjective
• unhomeliness noun
• unhomely adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of homely¹

First recorded in 1300–50, homely is from the Middle English word homly. See home, -ly

Synonym Study

Simple, homely ( homey ), homelike, plain imply absence of adornment or embellishment. Something that is simple is not elaborate or complex: a simple kind of dress. In the United States, homely usually suggests absence of natural beauty: an unattractive person almost homely enough to be called ugly. In England, the word suggests a wholesome simplicity without artificial refinement or elegance; since it characterizes that which is comfortable and attractive, it is equivalent to homey : a homely cottage. Homelike also emphasizes comfort and attractiveness, but it conveys less strongly than does homey a sense of intimate security: a homelike interior, arrangement, atmosphere. Something that is plain has little or no adornment: expensive but plain clothing.

Example Sentences

Jenny Nimmo, the head of inclusion at East Midlands Academy Trust, which runs Prince William Academy, says the unit will have more "homely" classrooms and on-site mental health provision.

From BBC

The firms today have innocuous, homely names such as Dave.com and Brigit; their websites are adorned with stock photos of young people and families evidently basking in the relief of a short-term financial crisis averted.

From Los Angeles Times

At the game’s outset, the calm before the unleashing of a cosmic horror storm, the player explores homely cabins littered with the paraphernalia of private lives: comforting trinkets, family photos.

From New York Times

On the other side, we saw the homely flicker of torches in the distance.

From Literature

Smith is miscast as Myrtle, for a start: Her onstage bearing exudes a homely approachability rather than high-strung poise or inscrutable aloofness.

From New York Times

Related Words

• plain