down-home

[ doun-hohm ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or exhibiting the simple, familiar, or folksy qualities associated with one's family or with rural areas, especially of the southern U.S.:

   down-home cooking; down-home hospitality.

down-home

adjective

1. slang.
   of, relating to, or reminiscent of rural life, esp in the southern US; unsophisticated

Word History and Origins

Origin of down-home¹

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30

Example Sentences

Awards in 2021, Pearce makes the artistic case for her position on her latest album, “Hummingbird,” a thoroughly down-home affair full of fiddle-laced tunes about love, home and whiskey.

From Los Angeles Times

Anna Paulina Luna and Marjorie Taylor Greene with a mix of lawyerly analytic mastery and gleeful gut punches wrapped in down-home—and often transgressive—language.

From Salon

And while Walz’s down-home, aw-shucks demeanor has captivated America, it’s also a sharp reminder of how different his finances are from those of the average politician.

From Slate

Harris reportedly was attracted to the 60-year-old, balding governor’s “authenticity” — presumably his down-home, folksy manner that constantly emits sincerity.

From Los Angeles Times

The bucolic family-friendly setting, with little wooded pockets and a small playground offering hideaways from the crowd, makes the countryside venue more of a down-home counterpart to, say, the wine-and-cheese milieu of the lovely Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• accurate
• authentic
• authoritative
• believable
• come-through
• convincing
• credible
• dependable
• ethical
• honest
• honorable
• mature
• principled
• realistic
• responsible
• sensible
• truthful
• upright