Holmes
6 synonyms for Holmes, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Informal, friendly term of address for a man, similar to "man" or "dude."
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
The friendly-address sense grew out of Chicano and West Coast slang; the detective sense nods to the fictional character Sherlock Holmes, whose surname comes from an old English word for a small island or river meadow.
Full origin of Holmes →Frequently asked questions
What does “Holmes” mean?
The word “Holmes” means informal, friendly term of address for a man, similar to "man" or "dude.". In plain terms, a casual way to address a friend, or a nod to someone playing detective.
How do you pronounce “Holmes”?
“Holmes” is pronounced hohmz (/hoʊmz/ in IPA).
How do you use “Holmes” in a sentence?
Here is “Holmes” used in a sentence: “Chill out, holmes, we've got time.”
What part of speech is “Holmes”?
“Holmes” is a noun.
Where does the word “Holmes” come from?
The word “Holmes” comes from Old English. The friendly-address sense grew out of Chicano and West Coast slang; the detective sense nods to the fictional character Sherlock Holmes, whose surname comes from an old English word for a small island or river meadow.
Is “Holmes” a common word?
“Holmes” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Holmes” have?
“Holmes” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informal, friendly term of address for a man, similar to "man" or "dude.".
Why do people call someone Holmes?
As a term of address, Holmes is informal American slang for a man, similar to "man," "dude," or "buddy": "What's up, Holmes?" It is generally treated as a variant spelling of homes, a friendly slang address between men.
Is Holmes capitalized when used as slang?
When the word alludes to the detective Sherlock Holmes, the capital H stays. As a street term of address it appears both capitalized and lowercase in informal writing, and the alternative spelling homes is usually written lowercase; there is no fixed rule.
