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.

---

homily British  

/ ˈhɒmɪlɪ /

noun

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

2. moralizing talk or writing

---

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

The private requiem mass included a homily from the Rt Rev David Charlesworth, Abbot of Buckfast.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 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

"The doors are still closed," the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, said in his Easter Vigil homily at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

From Barron's ● Apr. 5, 2026

One Sunday, while our parents debated the meaning of Father Finnegan’s homily that morning, the doorbell rang.

From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez

“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

But homilies, speeches, papers and encyclicals are better suited to great statements at great moments than buzzy posts on X.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026

Joe Friday peppered every episode of “Dragnet” with homilies about moral weakness and crime.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 28, 2025

Catholic, Anglican and Episcopalian churches follow liturgical calendars containing set Scripture passages to be read, with sermons or homilies to be derived from those passages.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 26, 2023

We may admit all this, and yet find fault with the moralizations and homilies of Whittier.

From John Greenleaf Whittier His Life, Genius, and Writings by W. Sloane Kennedy

Related Words

• lecture