homeless

adjective

home·​less ˈhōm-ləs How to pronounce homeless (audio)
: having no home or permanent place of residence : unhoused
homelessness noun

Examples of homeless in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lurie said the city used the 311 city services line as a test case that showed ways to improve service times for things like trash, homeless encampments and language translation. Kate Rogers, CNBC, 14 July 2025 Money has also been spent on nongovernmental organization programs that hand out clean needles and crack pipes as part of progressive harm reduction policies instead of encouraging homeless drug users to quit. Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2025 Nearly one in four homeless Americans lives in California. Melissa Melendez, Oc Register, 13 July 2025 Patrol officers responding to a report of an assault found Poindexter mortally wounded just outside a homeless encampment behind a Walmart store at Commercial and 21st streets about 1:30 a.m. last Friday, San Diego police Lt. Lou Maggi said. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for homeless

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of homeless was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Homeless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homeless. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

homeless

adjective
home·​less -ləs How to pronounce homeless (audio)
: having no home or permanent residence
homelessness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on homeless

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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