home video: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal, Neutral
Quick answer
What does “home video” mean?
A video recording made for personal or family use, typically of everyday events, holidays, or special occasions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A video recording made for personal or family use, typically of everyday events, holidays, or special occasions.
1. The genre or practice of making amateur video recordings of personal life. 2. Commercially released films or shows intended for viewing at home rather than in cinemas (less common, sometimes called 'home video release').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Both use 'home video' identically.
Connotations
Identical connotations of family, nostalgia, and amateur recording.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “home video” in a Sentence
watch a home videomake a home video of somethingtransfer home videos to digital formatlook back at old home videosVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “home video” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We should home video the baby's first steps.
- They spent the holiday home videoing everything.
American English
- We should home video the baby's first steps.
- They spent the vacation home videoing everything.
adverb
British English
- It was filmed very home video style. (Phrasal use)
- The documentary was shot home-video-fashion.
American English
- It was filmed very home video style. (Phrasal use)
- The documentary was shot home-video-fashion.
adjective
British English
- The home video footage was surprisingly clear.
- It had a charming, home video quality.
American English
- The home video footage was surprisingly clear.
- It had a charming, home video quality.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in marketing for video conversion services or cloud storage.
Academic
Rare. Could appear in media studies discussing amateur filmmaking or family archives.
Everyday
Very common. Used when discussing family memories, sharing recordings.
Technical
Rare in IT. More common in consumer electronics (e.g., 'home video camera').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “home video”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “home video”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “home video”
- Using 'home video' to mean 'TV show' (incorrect). Confusing it with 'home cinema' (which is the equipment/system).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A 'home video' is typically a private, personal recording for family, often unstructured. A 'vlog' (video blog) is a planned, edited video intended for public sharing online.
Yes, informally (e.g., 'We home videoed the concert'). However, 'film', 'record', or 'shoot a video' are more standard verbs.
'Home movie' is an older term from the era of film cameras and projectors. 'Home video' became dominant with the rise of VHS and camcorders. Today, 'home video' is the more common umbrella term.
Not obsolete, but evolving. The concept is stronger than ever with smartphone videos. The term is still used, though people might simply say 'video' or 'clip' (e.g., 'a video of the party') when context is clear.
A video recording made for personal or family use, typically of everyday events, holidays, or special occasions.
Home video is usually informal, neutral in register.
Home video: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhəʊm ˈvɪd.i.əʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhoʊm ˈvɪd.i.oʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Straight out of a home video (used to describe something amateurish or chaotically authentic)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of HOME (where you live) + VIDEO (moving pictures). It's the video of your home life.
Conceptual Metaphor
HOME VIDEO IS A TIME CAPSULE (it preserves moments from the past).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'home video' LEAST likely to be used?