homophily

American

[huh-mof-uh-lee] / həˈmɒf ə li /

noun

the tendency to form strong social connections with people who share one’s defining characteristics, as age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, personal beliefs, etc..

political homophily on social media.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

homophilious

adjective

Etymology

Origin of homophily

First recorded in 1950–55; homo- ( def. ) + -phily ( 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.

Second, racial homophily in networks is a mechanism that, in part, causes political disparities.

From Slate • May 22, 2026

But homophily is not the only driver of this segregation.

From Scientific American • Apr. 19, 2023

The evolutionary psychologist and anthropologist Robin Dunbar is fond of the term homophily — “love of the same” — to describe why certain people strike up friendships.

From New York Times • Jun. 26, 2022

The recruiters, doubtless subconsciously, were influenced by homophily.

From BBC • Jul. 6, 2021

Online groups confirm the power of homophily – the tendency of individuals to associate and bond with others of similar ilk.

From The Guardian • Oct. 29, 2017

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023