homo

[ hoh-moh ]

/ ˈhoʊ moʊ /

Save This Word!

noun, plural ho·mos.Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

a contemptuous term used to refer to a gay person, especially a gay man.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of homo

First recorded in 1920–25; by shortening of homosexual

Other definitions for homo (2 of 3)

Homo

[ hoh-moh ]

/ ˈhoʊ moʊ /

noun

the genus of bipedal primates that includes modern humans and several extinct forms, distinguished by their large brains and a dependence upon tools.Compare archaic Homo.

Facetious. (used in made-up taxonomic expressions to denote a type of human being): The door opens, and in walks Homo stupidus.

Origin of Homo

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin homō “man, human,” literally “the earthly one,” derivative of humus “earth, ground, soil”; related to Latin hūmānus “pertaining to man, human”; akin to Old English guma, Old Irish duine, Welsh dyn, Old Lithuanian žmuõ “human being”; see humus,human

Other definitions for homo (3 of 3)

homo-

a combining form appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “same” (homology); on this model, used in the formation of compound words (homomorphic).

Also especially before a vowel, hom-.

Origin of homo-

<Greek, combining form of homós one and the same; akin to Sanskrit sama-;see same

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use homo in a sentence

Understanding odds has never been a strength of Homo sapiens.
A Doctor Explains Why Cruise Ships Should Be Banned|Kent Sepkowitz|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In some very real sense, 21st-century Hollywood has forgotten how to use living, breathing Homo sapiens in action movies.
Game of Thrones’ 'The Watchers on the Wall': The Battle of Castle Black Is One For the Ages|Andrew Romano|June 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The results are in and Homo habilis, our primate forebear, has won another round.
The Top 10 Diets of 2013 Are All Useless (Except to Book Publishers)|Kent Sepkowitz|December 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
During Koch's 1977 mayoral primary against Mario, posters of mysterious origin appeared saying, “Vote for Cuomo, Not the Homo”.
Ed Koch Goes Out in Style|Lloyd Grove|February 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST

But in terms of beneficial public-health impact, nothing Homo sapiens has invented thus far outpaces the vaccine.
Get Your Damn Flu Shot|Kent Sepkowitz|January 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He'd reveal definite indications of belonging to Homo Sapiens only when drinking beer and talking about his holes.
The Holes and John Smith|Edward W. Ludwig
But what about the other doctrine, which he declares to be a part of the same programme — Homo Mensura — the Protagorean formula?
Plato and the Other Companions of Sokrates, 3rd ed. Volume III (of 4)|George Grote
He at the same time announces that his theory rests upon a principle opposed to the “Homo Mensura” of Protagoras.
Plato and the Other Companions of Sokrates, 3rd ed. Volume III (of 4)|George Grote
At an early part of the period to which this chapter belongs, the famous volume entitled “Ecce Homo” was published.
Recollections of a Long Life|John Stoughton
His last book, “Ecce Homo,” an autobiography, contains all the premonitory symptoms of the threatening tragedy.
German Problems and Personalities|Charles Sarolea

British Dictionary definitions for homo (1 of 4)

homo¹

/ (ˈhəʊməʊ) /

noun plural -mos

informal short for homosexual

British Dictionary definitions for homo (2 of 4)

homo²

/ (ˈhəʊməʊ) /

noun

Canadian informal homogenized milk

British Dictionary definitions for homo (3 of 4)

Homo

/ (ˈhəʊməʊ) /

noun

a genus of hominids including modern man (see Homo sapiens) and several extinct species of primitive man, including Homo habilis and Homo erectus

Word Origin for Homo

Latin: man

British Dictionary definitions for homo (4 of 4)

homo-

combining form

being the same or likehomologous; homosexual Compare hetero-

Word Origin for homo-

via Latin from Greek, from homos same

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for homo

homo-

A prefix meaning same, as in homogamous, having the same kind of flower.

Cultural definitions for homo

Homo

[ (hoh-moh) ]

The genus to which human beings belong. The genus Homo includes Neanderthals and other hominids closely related to today's humans, such as Homo erectus.