rehome

American  

[ree-hohm] / ˌriˈhoʊm /

verb (used with object)

1. to transfer (an animal or child) to the care of a new family in a different home: Shockingly, no federal law prohibits adoptive parents from rehoming their adopted children through a simple power of attorney.

   When our cat had kittens, we kept only the little runt, and rehomed the others.

   Shockingly, no federal law prohibits adoptive parents from rehoming their adopted children through a simple power of attorney.

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Etymology

Origin of rehome

First recorded in 1855–60; re- ( def. ) + home ( def. )

Example Sentences

Today, Hinds receives hundreds of requests a year to rehome mini pigs in her area alone.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

"What we want hunts to do is to stop breeding them and to work with reputable rescues to rehome the dogs in their kennels."

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025

"I don't want the emotional upset of possibly not being able to afford it and then having to ask for somebody to rehome the cat as well."

From BBC • Jun. 23, 2025

"The goal is we keep the dogs in the homes with their families. We don't want to have to rehome animals who have families who love them."

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2025

Sean Lowe, who was attacked last week by his rescue boxer Moose, had to rehome another rescue dog a few years ago after it chomped on one of his children.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2025