down-home

American  

[daun-hohm] / ˈdaʊnˈhoʊm /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or exhibiting the simple, familiar, or folksy qualities associated with one's family or with rural areas, especially of the southern U.S..

   down-home cooking; down-home hospitality.

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down-home British  

adjective

1. slang of, relating to, or reminiscent of rural life, esp in the southern US; unsophisticated

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Etymology

Origin of down-home

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

down-home

But it was 1986’s “A Smoky Mountain Christmas,” Parton’s down-home festive fable, that cemented her as a seasonal favorite.

From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026

Switching the setting of “Carrie” from suburban Boston to down-home Maine might have helped convince readers that the novel’s mayhem “could happen in any high school across the country.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026

Renowned for its Southern comfort food and down-home appeal, generations of Americans have wandered through the establishment’s general store decor and dined on its Southern comfort food.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2025

It became an article of faith that unless a president was able to present himself as a down-home guy, he didn't have a chance.

From Salon ● May 16, 2025

They became quite popular, which could perhaps be attributed to their down-home personalities, or to the fact they had one of the few working indoor toilets on the street.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

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