informal : a subject or class that teaches skills useful in the home : home economics
In part, home ec has become a victim of education trends: School budgets are contracting, many more students are preparing for college, and class hours are increasingly devoted to a narrow core of academic subjects and testing. Home economics also has to conquer its associations with training non-college-bound girls to be good wives.Ruth Graham

Examples of home ec in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Goldenrod eggs, or eggs goldenrod, is an old-timey, timeless recipe that burgeoning home cooks once learned in home ec classes—a lesson in making a warm, satisfying meal from staples that most people kept on hand, something that could be on the table in minutes. Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024 Though the extent of her sewing experience occurred in a middle school home ec class sewing a letter on a pillow, Julia decided to figure it out. Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 31 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'home ec.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of home ec was in 1909

Dictionary Entries Near home ec

Cite this Entry

“Home ec.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/home%20ec. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!