Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A sermon, especially one intended to explain the practical and moral implications of a particular scriptural passage.
  • noun A moralizing lecture or admonition that is often tedious or condescending.
  • noun A platitudinous or inspirational saying.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In early Christian use, a colloquial and familiar discourse in exposition of Scripture; in modern use, an expository sermon, or one which interprets and applies a particular passage of Scripture rather than elucidates a particular doctrine or theme.
  • noun Any expository or hortatory discourse.
  • noun [capitalized] In the Ch. of Eng., one of the two series of discourses called “The First” and “The Second Book of Homilies,” the former of which appeared in 1547 and the latter in 1563, appointed to be read in the churches when the sermon was omitted. Synonyms Exhortation, etc. See sermon.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A discourse or sermon read or pronounced to an audience; a serious discourse.
  • noun A serious or tedious exhortation in private on some moral point, or on the conduct of life.
  • noun A collection of authorized, printed sermons, to be read by ministers in churches, esp. one issued in the time of Edward VI., and a second, issued in the reign of Elizabeth; -- both books being certified to contain a “godly and wholesome doctrine.”

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A sermon, especially concerning a practical matter.
  • noun A moralizing lecture.
  • noun A platitude.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a sermon on a moral or religious topic

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English omelie, from Old French, from Late Latin homīlia, from Greek homīliā, discourse, from homīlos, crowd; see sem- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Ancient Greek ὁμιλία ("conversation; sermon").

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word homily.

Examples

  • His homily is about "bad people," and his text is an article in Chicago Magazine by a well-meaning journalist who was roughed up by one or more teenagers last year.

    Archive 2009-09-01 2009

  • The entire homily is incredible, I would say among the greatest of his pontificate, I will post an English translation once it becomes available (see post above):

    Papal Vespers for the Conclusion of the Pauline Year 2009

  • The pope read his homily from a text while seated on an altar in center field.

    Pope meets with sex abuse victims 2008

  • You can tell because the first word of his home-page homily is “suffering”.

    God hates me « Sven’s guide to… 2007

  • Ratzinger's homily is now known as the "dictatorship of relativism" speech, and with good reason.

    The Year of two Popes 2006

  • Ratzinger's homily is now known as the "dictatorship of relativism" speech, and with good reason.

    The Year of two Popes 2006

  • ALLEN: Sure, I mean this is a normal Catholic mass, which means we'll have readings from scripture, the Pope will then give a talk, which Catholics refer to as the homily, which is in the first place a reflection on the scripture readings but obviously, this is the Pope's one chance to speak to the people who make the church live at the grassroots.

    CNN Transcript Apr 19, 2008 2008

  • "I frankly think the big thing in this homily is that he's turned 179 degrees," said the Rev. Francis Buckley, a Jesuit who recently retired as professor of theology at the University of San Francisco.

    USATODAY.com - New pontiff stresses unity, youth, dialogue 2005

  • Thus, without leaving the comfort of one's living room, one may receive the homily from the nearest house of worship.

    Noise 2000

  • Thus, without leaving the comfort of one's living room, one may receive the homily from the nearest house of worship.

    Noise 2000

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • See: homilist

    January 30, 2009

  • Is a homily generally perceived as shorter than a sermon?

    I once heard a very short sermon/homily by the Most. Rev. Frank Griswold described (humorously, not as if it were a "real" word) as a "homilini" :)

    June 7, 2009

  • Hmmmm, I'd say so. Which probably means a bout of comeuppance regarding the real meaning is on its way :-)

    June 7, 2009

  • Whether or not it is by definition, I always think of it that way.

    June 7, 2009

  • Sounds like ad homilem reasoning to me.

    June 7, 2009

  • Just an inksplash away from hornily.

    March 10, 2010