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

In a homecoming of sorts, the work is exhibited in Palazzo Barberini in Rome, which houses the National Gallery of Ancient Art. —Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 27 Nov. 2024

However, pleasant homecomings in Outlander are fleeting, and the Frasers will be wrenched apart once more when Lord John Grey's nephew is injured in the American Revolution. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024

One person was killed and several wounded early Sunday when gunfire erupted on the campus of Tuskegee University as the school was celebrating its 100th homecoming weekend. —John Bacon, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024

The team hosted 2023 titlist LSU on Dec. 20, 2023, in a game that served as a homecoming for star forward Angel Reese, a Randallstown native and St. Frances graduate who now plays for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky. —Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 14 Nov. 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