NYT Dictionary

HOMETOWN

/ˈhoʊmˌtaʊn/
NounHOME-townhome-town · 2 syllablesGrade 3

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Meaning

An individual’s place of birth, childhood home, or place of main residence.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱey- Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *ḱóymos Proto-Indo-European *teḱ- Proto-Indo-European *-éyti Proto-Indo-European *tḱéytibf. Proto-Indo-European *tḱey- Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *tḱóymos Proto-Germanic *haimaz Proto-West Germanic *haim Old English hām Middle English hōm English home Proto-Indo-European *dewh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *duh₂-nós? Proto-Celtic *dūnombor. Proto-Germanic *tūną Proto-West Germanic *tūn Old English tūn Middle English toun English town English hometown From home + town.

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles, including a pangram:

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