noun
Common
Holmes
hohmz
Holmes (noun) means Informal, friendly term of address for a man, similar to "man" or "dude.". Example: “Chill out, holmes, we've got time.”
noun
1
Informal, friendly term of address for a man, similar to "man" or "dude."
"Chill out, holmes, we've got time."
"Thanks for the ride, holmes."
2
Someone who displays sharp, Sherlock-Holmes-like powers of deduction (from the fictional detective).
"You figured out his password from three clues? Nice work, holmes."
How to use Holmes
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA casual way to address a friend, or a nod to someone playing detective.
Easily confused with
holmes (the surname/place name)
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Holmes.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Chill out, _____, we've got time.
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.
Related words
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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include Holmes:
