homely
Americanadjective
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lacking in physical attractiveness; not beautiful; unattractive.
a homely child.
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not having elegance, refinement, or cultivation.
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proper or suited to the home or to ordinary domestic life; plain; unpretentious.
homely food.
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commonly seen or known.
adjective
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characteristic of or suited to the ordinary home; unpretentious
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warm and domesticated in manner or appearance
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plain or ugly
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Related Words
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.
Other Word Forms
- homeliness noun
- overhomeliness noun
- overhomely adjective
- unhomeliness noun
- unhomely adjective
Etymology
Origin of homely
First recorded in 1300–50, homely is from the Middle English word homly. See home, -ly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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 • Sep. 13, 2025
Volkswagen was perhaps Sirowitz’s most important account, and the homely Beetle, nicknamed the “Bug,” was his and copywriter Robert Levenson’s automotive muse.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 15, 2024
“This genre is a very interesting merge of something that is extremely homely, extremely intimate and private. Then one thinks, how do you take that onstage?”
From New York Times • Feb. 10, 2024
They have their points, but none improves on the homely originals.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 27, 2023
He was a homely, lanky, young fellow with close-set eyes, and a wide, expressive mouth.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
