homelier

Homelier is the comparative form of the adjective homely. It describes something that is more like home, or more plain or unpretentious in appearance, depending on regional usage.

In British English, homely commonly means plain but comfortable and domestic; a homely kitchen or a homely cottage emphasizes a cozy, unpretentious character. In American English, homely more often means unattractive or plain in appearance, so “homelier” would imply a greater degree of plainness rather than coziness. To express the cozy sense in American usage, speakers often choose terms like homey or cozy.

The sense of homely as plain or unattractive is older in some varieties, while the sense of being home-like or domestic is widespread and well established in others. The comparative form is homelier, and the superlative is homeliest. The related noun is homeliness, referring to the quality of being home-like or the quality of plainness.

Etymology: homely derives from Old English hāmlic, meaning “like a home,” with later senses expanding to include both domestic comfort and plainness. The modern confusion between cozy/home-like and unattractive plainness reflects regional shifts in interpretation.

Usage notes: because of regional differences, the word can carry complimentary or pejorative connotations depending on the audience. In American English, using homely to describe a person’s appearance can be taken as insulting; in British English, it can be positively or neutrally applied to places or atmospheres. When in doubt, choose more precise terms such as cozy, homey, plain, or unpretentious.

See also: homey, cozy, plain, homeliness.