homely

1 of 2

adjective

home·​ly ˈhōm-lē 

homelier; homeliest

1

: suggestive or characteristic of a place of residence or home

2

: being something familiar with which a person is comfortable and at ease : comfortable and familiar like home

… satisfy themselves with houses, furniture, books and clothes that were worn and homely and friendly to the touch.

—Brendan Gill

3

a

: free from affectation : unaffectedly natural : simple

plain, homely prose

b

: not elaborate or complex

homely virtues

4

: plain or unattractive in appearance

a homely face

he's a bit homely

homeliness noun

homeliness

2 of 2

noun

home·​li·​ness

ˈhōmlēnə̇s, 

-lin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being homely:

a

: coziness, intimacy

b

: lack of elegance, beauty, or refinement

c

: simplicity

voters attracted by his homeliness of speech

Synonyms of homely

Adjective

• ugly
• unpleasing
• hideous
• grotesque

Examples of homely in a Sentence

Adjective

She has a homely face.

He's a bit homely but nice.

the homely appeal of farm life

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

L'Apogée Courchevel L'Apogée Courchevel L'Apogée Courchevel L'Apogée Courchevel This 55-room Oetker Hotel atop the former Olympic ski jump was collaboratively designed by India Madhavi and Joseph Durand, a charming fairytale cottage of cozy corners and homely touches. —Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026

Potterheads across the globe will instantly recognize Harry’s not-so-homely house on Privet Drive, his cramped excuse of a bedroom and the endless disdain oozing from the young wizard’s unloving aunt and uncle, Petunia and Vernon Dursley. —Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026

Unlike many of the birds that Helen and Allan Cruickshank found in the Everglades, the storks had not been decimated by plume hunters decades before because the homely bird’s feathers weren’t prized for ladies' hats. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026

There’s a touch of homely comfort, with a bespoke kitchen flowing into a cosy dining alcove—perfect for breakfasts or candlelit meals in. —Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 19 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English homly, homely "belonging to a household, used at home, close, intimate, meek, tame, common, unattractive," from hom home entry 1 + -ly -ly entry 1

Noun

Middle English hoomlynesse, from hoomly homely + -nesse -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

homely

adjective

home·​ly ˈhōm-lē 

homelier; homeliest

1

: characteristic of home life

homely meals

2

: not pretty or handsome

a homely person

homeliness noun