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noun C2 Proficient Uncommon

homestead

HOHM-stehd

Homestead (noun) means a house along with its land and outbuildings, especially a farm. Example: “The family homestead had been passed down for three generations.”

noun
1
A house along with its land and outbuildings, especially a farm.
"The family homestead had been passed down for three generations."
verb
1
To settle on and farm a piece of land in order to claim ownership of it.
"Many pioneers homesteaded land in the Midwest during the 1800s."

How to use homestead

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA house and its surrounding farmland — or, as a verb, the act of settling and working unclaimed land to earn ownership of it.

Common pairings
family homestead homestead land

Word forms

homesteaded past tense, homesteads plural, homesteads singular

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Test yourself on “homestead” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The family _____ had been passed down for three generations.

Etymology

From Old English hāmstede, literally "home-place," from home + stead ("place").

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for homestead

See all rhymes for homestead →

Frequently asked questions

What does “homestead” mean?

The word “homestead” means a house along with its land and outbuildings, especially a farm. In plain terms, a house and its surrounding farmland — or, as a verb, the act of settling and working unclaimed land to earn ownership of it.

How do you pronounce “homestead”?

“Homestead” is pronounced HOHM-stehd (/ˈhoʊmˌstɛd/ in IPA).

How do you use “homestead” in a sentence?

Here is “homestead” used in a sentence: “The family homestead had been passed down for three generations.”

What part of speech is “homestead”?

Depending on how it is used, “homestead” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “homestead” come from?

The word “homestead” comes from Old English. From Old English hāmstede, literally "home-place," from home + stead ("place").

Is “homestead” a common word?

“Homestead” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

How many meanings does “homestead” have?

“Homestead” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a house along with its land and outbuildings, especially a farm.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial