home screen

noun

1

: television sense 2

… it's the kind of movie that plays better on the home screen, where you're less likely to miss any of the fiendishly witty lines of the screenplay … and can replay some of the stunning special effects.

—Molly Haskell

TV viewers soon may be seeing some of their black-and-white film favorites blushing with new color on the home screen.

—Ron Miller

2

: the graphical user interface that is displayed by default by an electronic device (such as a smartphone or computer) or software application and that provides quick access to commonly used functions, settings, etc.

[Journalist Catherine] Price's suggestions range from the extreme, such as a "digital sabbath" during which you turn your phone off for 24 hours, to the seemingly slight, such as reorganising your phone's home screen so you can't see the bright, tempting colours of your favourite apps the second you turn it on.

—Caroline Crampton

The Netflix interface—the home screen that greets users when they open the app—is constantly evolving.

—James Titcomb

Examples of home screen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Disney+ has joined Netflix and Max (and a bunch of other streamers) with a new Top 10 compilation on its home screen. —Brian Welk, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2024

So the streaming service is rolling out a top 10 list featured on the home screen in hopes of improving discoverability. —Andrew Webster, The Verge, 30 Oct. 2024

There are three buttons at the bottom of the screen: a back arrow to take you to the previous screen, a circle to take you to the home screen, and a square for switching between or closing open apps. —PCMAG, 23 Oct. 2024

The iOS 18 update will allow users to take the next step in customizing their home screens. —Shelby Slade, The Arizona Republic, 16 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

home screen

noun

1

: television

2

: the graphical user interface that is displayed by default by an electronic device (as a smartphone or computer) or software application and that provides quick access to commonly used functions and settings