homely

[ hohm-lee ]

adjective

, home·li·er, home·li·est.

1. lacking in physical attractiveness; not beautiful; unattractive:

   a homely child.

2. not having elegance, refinement, or cultivation.
3. proper or suited to the home or to ordinary domestic life; plain; unpretentious:

   homely food.

4. commonly seen or known.

homely

/ ˈhəʊmlɪ /

adjective

1. characteristic of or suited to the ordinary home; unpretentious
2. of a person
   1. warm and domesticated in manner or appearance
   2. plain or ugly

Derived Forms

• ˈhomeliness, noun

Other Words From

• homeli·ness noun
• over·homeli·ness noun
• over·homely adjective
• un·homeli·ness noun
• un·homely adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of homely¹

First recorded in 1300–50, homely is from the Middle English word homly. See home, -ly

Synonym Study

Simple, homely ( homey ), homelike, plain imply absence of adornment or embellishment. Something that is simple is not elaborate or complex: a simple kind of dress. In the United States, homely usually suggests absence of natural beauty: an unattractive person almost homely enough to be called ugly. In England, the word suggests a wholesome simplicity without artificial refinement or elegance; since it characterizes that which is comfortable and attractive, it is equivalent to homey : a homely cottage. Homelike also emphasizes comfort and attractiveness, but it conveys less strongly than does homey a sense of intimate security: a homelike interior, arrangement, atmosphere. Something that is plain has little or no adornment: expensive but plain clothing.

Example Sentences

The firms today have innocuous, homely names such as Dave.com and Brigit; their websites are adorned with stock photos of young people and families evidently basking in the relief of a short-term financial crisis averted.

From Los Angeles Times

At the game’s outset, the calm before the unleashing of a cosmic horror storm, the player explores homely cabins littered with the paraphernalia of private lives: comforting trinkets, family photos.

From New York Times

On the other side, we saw the homely flicker of torches in the distance.

From Literature

Smith is miscast as Myrtle, for a start: Her onstage bearing exudes a homely approachability rather than high-strung poise or inscrutable aloofness.

From New York Times

“Our department was — I mean, folks were a little bit homely, so they were all really intimidated by Ariana because she came in looking like a leading lady,” Sloss says.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• plain