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 preacher lived on his homestead two miles away and it seemed to Laura the longest drive she had ever taken, and yet it was over all too soon."
— Laura Ingalls Wilder, The First Four Years (1971)
"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 notesIn 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
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like homestead.
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
Word forms
- Plural
- homesteads
- Third person singular
- homesteads
- Past tense
- homesteaded
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").
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.
