homecoming
HOHM-kum-ing
/ˈhəʊmˌkʌm.ɪŋ/
An annual event at a school, college, or university for visiting former students.
Associated with American high school and college tradition involving football games, parades, and reunions.
The story behind the word. A native English compound word created in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as American universities started organizing autumn festivities centered around major rival football games to welcome alumni back.
Word relationships
- reunion: A homecoming is an institution-wide public festival, while a reunion can be a private class gathering.
- departure: Leaving an institution or location.
Commonly confused with
- reunion: Homecoming is an annual school celebration open to all classes; reunions are often for specific graduating classes.
Collocations
- homecoming weekend
- homecoming game
- homecoming court
- homecoming dance
Example sentences
- "Thousands of graduates returned to campus for the annual homecoming game and parade." Campus News
Memory hook
COMING HOME back to campus. Annual festive return to your school.
When not to use
Do not use for routine personal trips home for holidays unless referring to the formal institutional celebration.
Fun facts
- The University of Missouri, Baylor University, and the University of Illinois all claim to have invented the modern college homecoming tradition.
Related words
Explore more words
Alumni, commencement, alma mater, parade, housewarming, Prom
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