homebound

¹ American  

[hohm-bound] / ˈhoʊmˈbaʊnd /

adjective

1. going home.

   homebound commuters.

---

homebound ² American  

[hohm-bound] / ˈhoʊmˌbaʊnd /

adjective

1. confined to one's home, especially because of illness.

---

Etymology

Origin of homebound¹

First recorded in 1880–85; home + bound ⁴

Origin of homebound²

First recorded in 1880–85; home + bound ¹

Example Sentences

During the pandemic, food producers, distributors and retailers rushed to secure space to position goods close to homebound consumers shopping for groceries online, ordering meal-kit services and buying more frozen foods.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

It got to the point where even sitting became uncomfortable for Victoria, and she was largely homebound until her baby was born.

From BBC • Nov. 13, 2025

A revival of urban population growth would signal that in spite of the headwinds—the lure of a homebound, digital-first life in the ’burbs—cities still offer a product that Americans want.

From Slate • May 16, 2025

I regularly send meals to my mother’s friends who are homebound or unwell.

From Salon • Sep. 15, 2024

But she also felt reproved for her homebound boredom.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan