homeschool

American  

[hohm-skool] / ˈhoʊmˌskul /

Or home-school

verb (used with object)

1. to teach (one's children) at home instead of sending them to school.

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verb (used without object)

1. to educate one's children at home.

noun

1. a school set up in the home.

Usage

What does homeschool mean? To homeschool means to educate children at home instead of sending them to a school, especially on a permanent or long-term basis. Children who are homeschooled are taught by homeschoolers (their parent or other guardian) and the practice of doing so is called homeschooling. This is often contrasted with traditional forms of schooling in which children go to a public or private school with other children in a physical location. Other forms of education that can happen at home, such as distance learning and online classes, are not typically called homeschooling. Homeschooling is usually understood as when the parent or guardian is the one doing the teaching. Homeschool is sometimes spelled home-school or home school. It can also be used as a noun to mean a school set up at home. Example: Parents who homeschool their children often plan social activities with other children, but critics say this does not replace the socialization that occurs in traditional schooling.

Other Word Forms

• homeschooler
  noun

Etymology

Origin of homeschool

First recorded in 1770–80 homeschool for def. 3 and in 1980–85 for current senses; home ( def. ) + school ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

homeschool

Since the majority of families featured in the book are Christian, these case studies also help address the extent to which religious reasons factor into the choice to homeschool.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

Parents who opt not to vaccinate due to their beliefs can homeschool their children and enroll them in independent study, provided they do not “receive classroom-based instruction.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2026

When Newby ran for the Supreme Court in 2004, he focused on turning out church and homeschool communities, voters to whom he had deep ties.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2025

She left her job as a teacher to homeschool her five children, and the family relied on her husband’s salary as a pediatric nurse to make ends meet.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 8, 2024

“Funny, I just started giving Nic homeschool lessons on them,” Dad says.

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas