home economics

noun

plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: a subject or class that teaches skills (such as cooking or sewing) which are useful in the home
Classes in the family and consumer sciences—no one calls it home economics anymore—have changed too, stressing the entrepreneurial over the domestic …Bonnie Miller Rubin
If you passed seventh-grade home economics, you can probably sew a few basic nursery accessories.Deeanne Gist

called also home ec

home economist noun

Examples of home economics in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Parents, not state bureaucrats or school administrators, best understand their children’s educational strengths and needs, which run the gamut from specific subjects to physical activity to home economics. John Tillman, National Review, 6 Feb. 2024 His father was an art teacher, and his mother taught home economics, Ms. Kijner said. Aimee Ortiz, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2024 After serving six years in the Army, James Johnson worked at automotive plants, while Barbara taught home economics in a school for the deaf and blind. Brandi Kellam, ProPublica, 5 Sep. 2023 Barbara played alto sax in the band in high school and at Virginia State University, a historically Black college, graduating with a degree in home economics. Brandi Kellam and Louis Hansen, Virginia Center For Investigative Journalism At Whro, Essence, 5 Sep. 2023 About 1 percent of students in that major (formerly known as home economics) marry other home economists. Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2023 And so: home economics. Madhuri Vijay, The Atlantic, 28 Sep. 2022 Nora has signed some very dodgy documents in order to fund a trip to Italy (ostensibly) for her husband’s health and has hidden her shady dealings with increasingly creative acts of home economics. Chloe Schama, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2023 Colson loved her home economics teacher, Mrs. Duncan. Lyndi McNulty, Baltimore Sun, 14 Jan. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'home economics.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of home economics was in 1872

Dictionary Entries Near home economics

Cite this Entry

“Home economics.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/home%20economics. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

home economics

noun
: the study of the care and management of a household
home economist noun

More from Merriam-Webster on home economics

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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