homemade

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'homemade' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something made at home, such as a craft or food item. For example, "I made a delicious homemade chocolate cake for my friend's birthday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Breakfast of homemade yogurt, bread and jam is served on the roof terrace.

The Guardian - Travel

Breakfast is hearty, with homemade cakes, organic apple juice, and eggs from their own chickens.

The Guardian - Travel

Rising at around 8am, we practised manoeuvres or sailed all day, mooring at 6 or 7pm, leaving plenty of time for eating the homemade meals provided and indulging in our sizeable pre-cruise booze run while listening to Kevin's picaresque life story.

The Guardian - Travel

But the coalition, which has ensnared the country in its homemade austerity trap, has done a brilliant job until now in bringing out the masochistic streak in the British character, and persuading people that all these budget cuts are necessary.

The Guardian - Business

Skydiving commandos, a homemade killer drone and even a pair of animatronic dinosaurs were all deployed by Pakistan's army on Monday in an attempt to deliver a much-needed shot of self-confidence to the terrorism-ravaged country.

The Guardian

What the police discovered when they raided the three-bedroom flat in spring 2011, however, had more of a Young British Artists vibe: homemade shelves stacked with hundreds of juice cartons and tinned food with a 1980s sell-by date.

The Guardian

Three "courses" might comprise, say, yoghurt with fruit, then smoked salmon and cream cheese or Mexican-style eggs, then homemade cake, all beautifully served on delicate white china with white linen napkins.

The Guardian - Travel

Breakfast is a buffet of fruit, eggs, scones, iced tea and homemade custard tart, taken on the terrace.

The Guardian - Travel

Think everything from homemade culinary efforts to co-ordinated outfits.

The Guardian

Phillip carried Joshua, his oldest son, then about three, in a homemade papoose on his back.

The Guardian

Breakfast comprises homemade breads, pastries and jams, with lots of fresh fruit and local duck eggs.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "homemade" to emphasize the personal touch and care that went into creating something, especially in contexts like food, gifts, or crafts.

Common error

Avoid using "homemade" in formal or professional writing where a more precise term like "handcrafted", "self-made", or "domestically produced" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The word "homemade" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that something was made at home or by oneself. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable. The provided examples showcase its use in describing various items from food to crafts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Travel

25%

Lifestyle

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "homemade" is a common and grammatically correct adjective used to describe items made at home, implying a personal touch. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to informal contexts, with more formal alternatives available for professional settings. Its frequency is high, especially in news, travel, and lifestyle content, making it a valuable and easily understood term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

handmade

Highlights the fact that an item was created by hand rather than by machine.

self-made

Focuses on the individual's effort in creating something.

handcrafted

Emphasizes the skill and artistry involved in making something by hand.

created from scratch

Focuses on the origin of the item being made from basic ingredients.

home-brewed

Specifically refers to beverages made at home.

family-made

Highlights that it was made by the whole family.

do-it-yourself

Emphasizes the act of creating or repairing something oneself.

prepared at home

A more descriptive and literal alternative.

assembled personally

Emphasizes the individual assembly of an item.

domestically produced

Implies production within a country or region, carrying a more formal tone.

FAQs

How can I use "homemade" in a sentence?

You can use "homemade" to describe something made at home or by oneself. For example, "She brought a jar of "homemade jam" to the picnic" or "He built a "homemade bookshelf" for his study".

What's the difference between "homemade" and "handmade"?

"Homemade" generally refers to items made at home, often implying a personal or domestic setting, especially food items. "Handmade" emphasizes that an item was created by hand, focusing on the craftsmanship.

Are there situations where I shouldn't use "homemade"?

In very formal or technical contexts, consider using more precise terms like "self-manufactured", "handcrafted", or "domestically produced" instead of "homemade".

What can I say instead of "homemade"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "self-made", "handcrafted", or "handmade".