homily

American  

[hom-uh-lee] / ˈhɒm ə li /

noun

homilies plural

1. a sermon, usually on a Biblical topic and usually of a nondoctrinal nature.

2. an admonitory or moralizing discourse.

3. an inspirational saying or cliché.

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homily British  

/ ˈhɒmɪlɪ /

noun

1. a sermon or discourse on a moral or religious topic

2. moralizing talk or writing

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• homilist
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• homilies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of homily

1545–55; < Late Latin homīlia < Greek homīlía assembly, sermon, equivalent to hómīl ( os ) crowd ( hom ( oû ) together + -īlos, masculine combining form of ī́lē (feminine) crowd) + -ia -y ³; replacing Middle English omelie < Middle French < Latin, as above

Compare meaning

How does homily compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• homily vs. sermon

Explanation

A homily is a sermon or religious speech offering encouragement or moral correction. Isn’t it strange how sometimes, when you're struggling with something, a preacher comes on TV giving a homily on that same problem?! Too bad it happens when you do bad stuff, too. In many churches and lecture halls, a homily is just a short message on a religious topic or moral issue that's meant to encourage those who hear it. Another type of homily, though, is one that's judgmental or condemning. If you hear a homily and feel better afterward, even if it delivers hard truths about right and wrong, you've heard an uplifting homily. One that leaves you mad and frustrated, however, might make you need another homily on forgiveness and self-control.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

homily homilies

In his homily, Pope Leo said Spaniards should not look at religion as "a museum of the past to be visited, but a school of faith from which to draw even today".

From Barron's ● Jun. 7, 2026

He said these words only a couple of days after his Easter homily, in which he warned against the “desire for domination.”

From Slate ● Apr. 11, 2026

Then he offered one final homily before closing with Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026

In the Ash Wednesday Mass, this bracing mandate is followed by a homily from the priest.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 12, 2026

The homily at Sunday mass, intended to give parishioners basic religious instruction, has often been poorly prepared and aimed at a childish listener.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez

“Grantchester” may be ending, but “Father Brown” endures because its homilies champion the belief that good exists in everybody, even in the hearts of those who commit mortal sin.

From Salon ● Jun. 16, 2026

To an ordinary viewer, everything about this film is disappointing—the dull jokes, the stupid plot, the canned homilies, the silly and unworkable policy proposals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 11, 2025

We follow Thiên as he tries to make sense of his place in the world, a journey that at one point brings him into contact with an older woman who speaks in cryptic homilies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 2024

Thirty of the homilies date from Benedict’s pontificate, while around 100 more are from his retirement, said a statement from the publisher, the Joseph Ratzinger Foundation and the Vatican’s communications office.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 23, 2023

Philem.; with Theophylact's commentary, and some homilies of Chrysostom.

From A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament, Vol. I. by Scrivener, Frederick Henry Ambrose

Related Words

• lecture