home-schooler: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Mid-frequencyFormal to informal, primarily used in educational, parenting, and social contexts.
Quick answer
What does “home-schooler” mean?
A child who is educated at home by a parent or tutor, rather than in a formal school.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A child who is educated at home by a parent or tutor, rather than in a formal school.
More broadly, any person who receives or has received their primary education outside of a traditional school system, typically at home. The term can also refer to the parent or guardian responsible for providing that education.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The hyphenated spelling 'home-schooler' is more common in both varieties, but 'homeschooler' is also accepted, especially in American English. The UK equivalent 'home-educator/home educator' is often preferred to describe the parent, while 'home-educated child' describes the pupil.
Connotations
In the UK, 'home-schooler' may more strongly imply a structured, formal alternative to school, whereas in the US, it can be associated with a wider range of philosophies, including religious education or alternative pedagogies.
Frequency
The term is more frequently used in American English due to the higher prevalence and formal legal recognition of the practice. It appears more commonly in UK media and policy discussions than in general conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “home-schooler” in a Sentence
[Determiner] + home-schooler[Adjective] + home-schoolerhome-schooler + [verb]home-schooler + [prepositional phrase (e.g., from London)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “home-schooler” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They decided to home-school their children after moving to a remote area.
- More parents are choosing to home-school for philosophical reasons.
American English
- She has home-schooled all three of her kids from kindergarten through high school.
- We home-school using an online accredited program.
adverb
British English
- [The adverbial form is not standard; 'at home' is used instead.]
American English
- [The adverbial form is not standard; 'at home' is used instead.]
adjective
British English
- They joined a home-schooling co-operative for science lessons.
- The local library has a special section for home-schooling families.
American English
- They follow a homeschool curriculum aligned with state standards.
- The homeschool convention had hundreds of vendors.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in the context of businesses catering to the educational market (e.g., 'Our platform is designed for home-schoolers.')
Academic
Used in educational research, sociology, and policy papers discussing alternative education systems and outcomes.
Everyday
Common in discussions among parents, in community groups, and in media articles about education choices.
Technical
Used in legal and administrative contexts to define a category of pupil for funding, assessment, or regulatory purposes.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “home-schooler”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “home-schooler”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “home-schooler”
- Misspelling as one word ('homeschooler') is common and often accepted, but the hyphenated form is more standard in formal writing.
- Using 'home-schooler' to refer exclusively to the parent/teacher. While sometimes used this way, it can be ambiguous; 'home-schooling parent' or 'home-educator' is clearer for the adult.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, especially in American English, though style guides often recommend the hyphenated form 'home-schooler' for clarity.
It can, but this usage is ambiguous. Terms like 'home-schooling parent', 'home-educator', or 'home tutor' are more precise for the adult providing the education.
A home-schooler is legally and formally educated outside the school system, often with a registered curriculum. A truant is a child who is registered at a school but unlawfully absent from it.
Regulations vary by country and region. In many US states, home-schoolers are required to undergo periodic standardised testing or portfolio assessments, while in the UK, it is at the local authority's discretion to make informal enquiries.
A child who is educated at home by a parent or tutor, rather than in a formal school.
Home-schooler is usually formal to informal, primarily used in educational, parenting, and social contexts. in register.
Home-schooler: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhəʊm ˈskuːlə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhoʊm ˈskuːlər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No specific idiom; the term itself is descriptive]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'home-SCHOOL-er' – the SCHOOL part is at HOME. It's a person for whom the school is in the home.
Conceptual Metaphor
EDUCATION IS A LOCATION (shifted from institution to home).
Practice
Quiz
In British English, which phrase is often preferred to 'home-schooler' when referring to the child?