Holmes

American  

[hohmz, hohlmz] / hoʊmz, hoʊlmz /

noun

1. John Haynes 1879–1964, U.S. clergyman.

2. Oliver Wendell 1809–94, U.S. poet, novelist, essayist, and physician.

3. his son Oliver Wendell, 1841–1935, U.S. jurist: associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court 1902–32.

4. Sherlock, a detective in many mystery stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

---

Holmes British  

/ həʊmz /

noun

1. Oliver Wendell. 1809–94, US author, esp of humorous essays, such as The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table (1858) and its sequels

2. his son, Oliver Wendell. 1841–1935, US jurist, noted for his liberal judgments

3. Sir Paul .1950–2013, New Zealand radio and television broadcaster; presenter of The Paul Holmes Breakfast , (1987–2008)

---

Holmes Scientific  

/ hōmz,hōlmz /

1. British geologist who pioneered a method of determining the age of rocks by measuring their radioactive components. He was also an early supporter of Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift.

---

Example Sentences

Speaking of Holmes, “Sherlock” co-creator and co-star Mark Gatiss is up to it again, this time in the leading role.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

Elizabeth Holmes, founder of Theranos, walked out of his office empty-handed.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

However, Paralympic gold medallist Lord Christopher Holmes of Richmond urged clearer disabled passengers' rights to be written directly into the bill rather than left to future rules.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

While Beene and Balenciaga received praise for their restraint and elegance, the lesser-known London-born designer Walter Holmes created controversy with his “mini-medievals” in 1968.

From Salon • May 17, 2026

The letters not only provided irrefutable proof that the children had been with Holmes but contained geographic references that allowed Geyer to plot the broad contours of the route Holmes and the children had followed.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson