English Reference
noun

homer

n.
US /ˈhoʊmɝ/ UK /hˈəʊmɐ/ homer UK spelling homered, homering, homers

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate American EnglishInformal Sport

    a home run in baseball, where the batter hits the ball and runs around all the bases.

    a home run; a hit that allows the batter to circle all bases and score a run. Often used in sports journalism.

    Simple

    The crowd went wild when he hit a massive homer in the ninth inning.

    In context

    The rookie's walk-off homer secured the division title, marking a historic turning point for the franchise's season.

    home runfour bagger
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the name of the ancient Greek poet who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey.

    the legendary author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two foundational works of ancient Greek literature.

    Simple

    In school, we had to read a translation of Homer's epic poems.

    In context

    Scholars continue to debate the 'Homeric Question,' questioning whether Homer was a single individual or a collective of oral storytellers.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Informal

    a pigeon that is trained to fly back to its home from a long distance.

    a homing pigeon, specifically one bred and trained for racing or message delivery.

    Simple

    The bird enthusiast released his prize homer fifty miles from the coop.

    In context

    The racing homer navigated through the storm with remarkable precision, arriving at the loft hours ahead of the rest of the flock.

    homing pigeon
  4. 04 C1 Advanced American EnglishInformal Sport

    a person who is very loyal to their local team and always thinks they are right.

    a sports fan or commentator who shows extreme bias toward a local or favourite team.

    Simple

    The announcer is such a homer that he never admits when the home team fouls.

    In context

    Critics dismissed the journalist as a local homer, claiming his coverage lacked the objectivity required for national syndication.

In an interview recorded in the spring for the ancient-history podcast Instant Classics, she discussed her desire to return to Homer and approach the poem differently from her first translation.

The Guardian· 1 Sept 2026

Etymology 1

From Latin Homērus, from Ancient Greek Ὅμηρος (Hómēros).

Etymology 2

From Middle English [Term?], an occupational name for a helmet maker, or a variant of Holme.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Ancient Greek Ὅμηρος
Level C2 · Proficiency
Frequency Frequent
Updated