What is homestead? How to use in English

Definition & pronunciation of homestead

homesteadnoun
Homestead
/ˈhəʊmsted//ˈhəʊmsted/

Where does the word homestead come from?

The word "homestead" has its roots in Old English and Old Germanic languages. It is derived from the words "ham" meaning "home" or "village" and "stede" meaning "stead" or "dwelling place". In Old English, the word "homestede" referred to a palace or a stately home, while in Old Germanic languages, the word "heim-est" referred to a settled place or a regular residence. In the 13th century, the word "homestead" began to be used in Middle English to refer to a person's rural or agricultural estate, including the house, land, and surrounding property. The word has since been influenced by the Old English and Old Germanic roots, and has come to encompass a wide range of meanings, including a family's residence, a dwelling place, and even a piece of land that is designated for agricultural or other purposes.

Vocabulary summary homestead

type noun

meaning house garden

meaning hamlet, camp

meaning (US, American meaning) land given to immigrants (on condition that they stay there and cultivate the land)

Example of vocabulary homesteadnamespace

a house with the land and buildings around it, especially a farm

What began as a small family homestead is now a 5 000-acre ranch.
The family has lived on their homestead in the countryside for over a century, passing it down through generations.
After years of city living, the couple decided to give up their modern lifestyle and start anew on a homestead in the mountains.
The old homestead has been abandoned for years, but the clothesline still sways in the wind and the chickens peck at the dirt beneath it.
The homestead was once a flourishing farm, but now only the remnants of a half-eaten meal remain beside the crumbling foundation.

(in the US in the past) a piece of land given to somebody by the government on condition that they lived on it and grew crops on it