homecoming

noun

home·​com·​ing ˈhōm-ˌkə-miŋ 

1

: a return home

a soldier's homecoming

2

: the return of a group of people usually on a special occasion to a place formerly frequented or regarded as home

especially : an annual celebration for alumni at a high school, college, or university

—often used before another noun

a homecoming rally

homecoming weekend

the annual homecoming game/dance

was elected the homecoming queen

Examples of homecoming in a Sentence

A large crowd gathered at the airport for the soldiers' homecoming.

Recent Examples on the Web

During her hospital stay, Davidson had sent her older twin daughters videos of the newborns, Hunter and Saylor, and the girls had been eagerly awaiting the homecoming. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Mariah the Scientist Feels ‘So Grateful’ for Young Thug’s Release Travis Scott, T.I., Nicki Minaj, and more have celebrated Young Thug’s homecoming. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2024

Peoria police arrested a 14-year-old student in connection with a stabbing at the Peoria High School homecoming football game on Oct. 18. —Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 1 Nov. 2024

My mom has several homecoming pictures from the kitchen as most of the court worked there, including Kathy Fairchild and Donna Umholtz. —James F. Hales Remembering Rogers, arkansasonline.com, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

homecoming

noun

home·​com·​ing ˈhōm-ˌkəm-ing 

1

: a return home

2

a

: the return of a group of people usually on a special occasion to a place formerly frequented

b

: a yearly celebration for alumni at a school