Dictionary.com

homo

[ hoh-moh ]
/ ˈhoʊ moʊ /

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

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

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Origin of homo

First recorded in 1920–25; by shortening of homosexual

Definition 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

Definition 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. 2020

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

Medical definitions for homo

homo-

pref.

Same; like:homotype.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for homo

homo-

A prefix meaning “same,” as in homogamous, having the same kind of flower.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.