Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

homestay

American  
[hohm-stey] / ˈhoʊmˌsteɪ /

noun

  1. housing accommodations in a home with a family in residence, as for a student or traveler.

    Foreign-exchange students can choose between a homestay or campus dormitory.

  2. a period of time spent in homestay housing accommodations.

    my summer-long homestay with a French family.


Etymology

Origin of homestay

First recorded in 1950–55; home ( def. ) + stay 1 ( def. )

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.

"Since the homestay operator did not know them, she told them they had no money," police said.

From BBC • Mar. 8, 2025

"The number of customers since the beginning of summer has risen by 60-70% compared to the same period last year," said a receptionist surnamed Wu at a Hangzhou-based homestay service provider.

From Reuters • Aug. 3, 2023

And without training or experienced staff to facilitate something like a homestay, a relatively risky arrangement could become even more fraught.

From The Verge • Jul. 1, 2022

A Chinese woman reunites with her daughter after sending her to live with an American homestay family.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2020

Becoming Family Week turned out to be a test run for a standardized homestay program.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 29, 2018